Construction work at Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría international airport is expected to be completed before the June 2010 deadline stipulated by the concession contract.

The expansion will increase the number of check-in counters from 58 to 78, allowing more airlines to operate. The number of immigration stands will also increase.

Other works include rebuilding the airport’s immigration and customs areas, constructing and renovating boarding bridges, and building additional waiting areas. The airport’s ramp and one of its taxiways will also be rebuilt, according to the report.

Earlier this month, IDB approved a US$45mn loan to help finance the airport’s expansion, the report said.

The airport’s current concessionaire is a consortium led by US-based Houston Airport Systems Development Corporation (HASDC). The consortium, which is now known as Aeris Holding Costa Rica, also includes Canada’s ADC and Brazil’s Andrade Guitiérrez.

The former concessionaire, UK-based Alterra Partners, ran into financial difficulties and was unable to complete the expansion project. Earlier this year, Costa Rica’s civil aviation council (CTAC) authorized transferring the airport’s concession from Alterra to the HASDC-led consortium.

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