Spirit to Launch a New Route to Costa Rica From This U.S. Hub

Spirit will be launching a new route from Houston to Travel + Leisure's 2024 Destination of the Year.

Spirit Airlines is making it easier to get to Costa Rica thanks to a brand-new flight launching next month from Houston.

The new route, which will launch on March 6, will operate daily between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport, the Costa Rica Tourism Board shared with Travel + Leisure. The flight will complement Spirit’s other service to Costa Rica from both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

"San Jose is the gateway to all the beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica, and this new route will open up new travel opportunities for U.S guests to enjoy Pura Vida,” John Kirby, the vice president of route planning at Spirit Airlines, said in a statement shared with T+L.

The flight will depart Houston at 2:40 p.m. each day and arrive in San José at 5:35 p.m. local time.

William Rodriguez, Costa Rica’s minister of tourism, said in the statement the new flight “will bring benefits and quality of life for many Costa Ricans.”

“It is the institution’s commitment to maintain ongoing negotiations with airlines to increase frequencies and establish direct connections to U.S. cities hosting the largest number of potential tourists extremely interested in traveling to Costa Rica," Rodriguez added.

Costa Rica was named T+L’s Destination of the Year for 2024, known for its pristine beaches, incredible resorts, wellness offerings, and endless adventure.

The launching of a new route to Costa Rica comes weeks after Spirit postponed flights to the brand new airport in Tulum, Mexico, due to ongoing mechanical issues with engine parts. Those flights were originally scheduled to take off from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale on March 28.

Spirit is a low-cost airline, offering bare-bones tickets and charging for perks like baggage and seat selection. The carrier offers a paid yearly membership program, the Saver$ Club, which includes discounts on those extras, as well as offers a status-matching program to give travelers access to those same types of perks for a fee.

JetBlue had an agreement to buy and merge with Spirit, but a federal judge last month blocked that merger.

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