Guanacaste Airport Adds New Direct Charter Flight From Chicago Rockford for 2027 High Season
Guanacaste Airport Adds New Direct Charter Flight From Chicago Rockford for 2027 High Season
Guanacaste Airport (LIR) will expand its U.S. connectivity for Costa Rica’s 2027 high season with a new nonstop charter service from Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Illinois.
The new seasonal connection is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2027, and continue through April 2, 2027, operating once a week on Fridays. Chicago Rockford International Airport currently lists Liberia, Guanacaste, as a new Costa Rica destination in its 2027 international vacation schedule. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
The service gives travelers from northern Illinois and the surrounding Midwest another direct option for reaching Costa Rica, arriving at the country's principal international gateway for Guanacaste and the North Pacific tourism region.
Quick Answer
The new Chicago Rockford to Guanacaste Airport charter flight will operate nonstop between Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and Guanacaste Airport (LIR).
The currently published schedule is:
Route: Chicago Rockford, Illinois (RFD) to Guanacaste, Costa Rica (LIR)
Service type: Seasonal nonstop charter
Start date: February 5, 2027
End date: April 2, 2027
Frequency: Once weekly
Operating day: Friday
Vacation operator: Apple Vacations
Aircraft announced by Guanacaste Airport: Boeing 737-800NG
Capacity: 189 passengers
The dates and Friday frequency are confirmed by Chicago Rockford International Airport, while Guanacaste Airport's latest announcement identifies the 189-seat Boeing 737-800NG planned for the operation. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
New Nonstop Connection Between Illinois and Guanacaste
The new route will connect Rockford directly with Liberia, allowing passengers to fly to northwestern Costa Rica without making an airline connection at another U.S. or Central American airport.
Chicago Rockford International Airport announced in May 2026 that Liberia, Guanacaste, would join its international leisure destinations for 2027 alongside Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Costa Rica flights will be offered through Apple Vacations and its affiliated vacation brands, with air-only and vacation-package options available. (https://www.rockfordnewsfirst.com)
The addition is particularly significant for travelers who prefer beginning their international vacation from a regional airport rather than traveling through a larger hub.
For Guanacaste, the flight creates another direct link with the United States during one of the busiest periods of Costa Rica's tourism calendar.
When Will the Rockford to Costa Rica Flights Operate?
The first flight is scheduled for Friday, February 5, 2027.
Flights are then expected to operate each Friday through April 2, 2027. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
This schedule places the service during Guanacaste's peak winter travel season, when visitors from the United States frequently travel to Costa Rica for warm weather, beaches, resorts, national parks and outdoor activities.
Because this is a seasonal charter rather than a year-round scheduled route, travelers should confirm the specific operating dates available when booking their trip.
Apple Vacations Will Market the Seasonal Service
The new RFD–LIR route is part of Chicago Rockford International Airport's international vacation program with Apple Vacations and ALG Vacations brands.
The airport currently identifies Apple Vacations among its passenger-service providers and lists Liberia, Guanacaste, among its 2027 international flight destinations. (LinkedIn)
Travelers may therefore find the Costa Rica flight available either as an air-only booking or combined with hotel and vacation components, depending on the packages offered for their selected dates.
Boeing 737-800NG Planned for the Route
According to Guanacaste Airport's latest announcement, the charter operation is planned with a TUI Boeing 737-800NG configured for 189 passengers. (LinkedIn)
The Boeing 737-800 is widely used for medium-haul leisure routes and provides sufficient capacity for direct vacation-oriented service between the Midwest and Costa Rica.
Passengers should always verify their final flight number, operating carrier, aircraft and schedule on their booking documents, since charter arrangements and aircraft assignments can change before departure.
Guanacaste Airport Continues Strong Tourism Growth
The Rockford announcement comes as Guanacaste Airport plays an increasingly important role in Costa Rica's international tourism growth.
Costa Rica recorded 1,853,430 international arrivals by air between January and July 2026, representing growth of approximately 7% compared with the same period of 2025. (CET Estudios Turismo)
Guanacaste Airport has been one of the strongest contributors to that expansion. According to the airport, LIR accounted for 67.2% of Costa Rica's net growth in international air arrivals between January and July 2026. (LinkedIn)
During those seven months, Guanacaste Airport received approximately 698,079 international arrivals, an increase of about 13.3% year over year. (The Costa Rica News)
The new Illinois connection is therefore part of a broader expansion in demand for direct access to Costa Rica through Liberia.
Why Guanacaste Airport Is Important for Costa Rica Travelers
Guanacaste Airport, whose IATA code is LIR, is located approximately 12 kilometers west of downtown Liberia on Route 21. Its location provides convenient access to many of the most visited destinations on Costa Rica's North Pacific coast. (Guanacaste Airport)
Travelers arriving through LIR commonly continue to destinations such as:
Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Playa Panamá, the Gulf of Papagayo, Peninsula Papagayo, Playa Conchal, Brasilito, Flamingo, Potrero, Tamarindo, Las Catalinas and other communities across Guanacaste.
The airport can also serve as a starting point for longer overland journeys to destinations such as La Fortuna and Monteverde.
For travelers whose main vacation is in Guanacaste, flying directly into LIR can eliminate the need for the longer overland drive from San José.
Transportation From Guanacaste Airport After the Rockford Flight
Passengers traveling on the new Rockford charter should also arrange transportation from Guanacaste Airport to their hotel, resort, villa or vacation rental.
Ground transportation options include private airport transportation, shared shuttle services on selected routes, rental cars, authorized taxis and public transportation. Guanacaste Airport itself confirms the availability of private vehicles, taxis and public transportation for passengers traveling to and from the terminal. (Guanacaste Airport)
Private transportation can be especially practical after an international arrival because pickup can be coordinated with the flight and passengers can travel directly to their accommodation without waiting for a fixed shared-shuttle departure.
Travel time depends considerably on the destination.
For example, Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste is normally about 25 to 40 minutes from Liberia Airport by private transportation, depending on traffic and the exact drop-off location. (Costa Rica Shuttles Bus)
Travelers continuing inland to La Fortuna can use scheduled shared shuttle transportation from Liberia Airport, with an estimated journey of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours. (Costa Rica Shuttles Bus)
For Monteverde, scheduled shared transportation from Liberia Airport normally takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. (Costa Rica Shuttles Bus)
Because February and March fall within Costa Rica's busy tourism season, advance reservations for airport transportation are recommended.
Rockford Expands Its International Vacation Network
The Costa Rica route also represents an expansion for Chicago Rockford International Airport.
RFD handled more than 310,000 passengers in 2025, and airport officials have been working to expand convenient leisure travel options for travelers in the region. (https://www.rockfordnewsfirst.com)
For early 2027, its international vacation schedule includes Cancun, Punta Cana and the newly added Liberia, Guanacaste service. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
Costa Rica therefore becomes another warm-weather international destination accessible directly from Rockford during the winter travel period.
What the New Flight Means for Guanacaste Tourism
A direct charter from Illinois gives Guanacaste another opportunity to attract travelers from the U.S. Midwest without requiring them to connect through another airport.
That is particularly valuable for destinations built around resort stays and vacation packages, where convenient nonstop air access can influence a traveler's choice of destination.
The route also reinforces Guanacaste Airport's growing importance within Costa Rica's aviation network. LIR handled approximately 1.9 million passengers in 2025 and is currently served by a broad range of North American and international airlines. (VINCI Airports)
Adding another seasonal U.S. market increases the number of travelers who can begin their Costa Rica vacation directly in Guanacaste rather than entering through the Central Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct flight from Rockford, Illinois, to Costa Rica in 2027?
Yes. A new seasonal nonstop charter from Chicago Rockford International Airport to Guanacaste Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2027. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
What airport will the Rockford flight use in Costa Rica?
The flight will arrive at Guanacaste Airport (LIR), also known as Liberia International Airport or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport.
When does the Rockford to Guanacaste flight start?
The first scheduled flight is February 5, 2027. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
How often will the flight operate?
The charter is scheduled to operate once per week on Fridays. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
When does the seasonal service end?
The currently published schedule runs through April 2, 2027. (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
Is the Rockford to Costa Rica flight year-round?
No. The announced service is a seasonal charter operating during the 2027 winter and Costa Rica high-season travel period.
Who is offering the Rockford to Guanacaste charter?
The service is being marketed through Apple Vacations, with Chicago Rockford International Airport also promoting international vacation travel through ALG Vacations brands. (LinkedIn)
What aircraft will be used?
Guanacaste Airport's current announcement states that the service is planned with a TUI Boeing 737-800NG with 189 seats. (LinkedIn)
Should transportation from Guanacaste Airport be booked in advance?
Advance booking is recommended, particularly during February and March. Travelers can arrange private transportation or use scheduled shared shuttle services where available, depending on their final destination and arrival time.
New Direct Access From Illinois to Costa Rica's North Pacific
The new Chicago Rockford–Guanacaste charter adds another direct U.S. connection to Costa Rica for the 2027 high season.
Beginning February 5, travelers will have a weekly Friday flight from Rockford directly to Guanacaste Airport, placing them within convenient driving distance of many of Costa Rica's most popular North Pacific beaches, resorts and tourism destinations.
For Guanacaste, the new route adds another source market at a time when LIR is already driving a large share of Costa Rica's growth in international air arrivals. For travelers in Illinois, it creates a simpler way to reach Costa Rica without first connecting through another airport.
Visitors planning to use the new service should confirm their flight arrangements and reserve transportation from Guanacaste Airport to their final destination in advance, especially for travel during February and March 2027.
Liberia Airport to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste – Private Transportation View route
Liberia Airport to La Fortuna – Shared Shuttle View route
Liberia Airport to Monteverde – Shared Shuttle View route
