Costa Rica Is
In Recession, Government and Central Bank
Recognize
Costa Rica
Blames Chorus For Spreading Flu
Catholics
Church In Costa Rica Against Gay Marriage
Former
President Rodríguez Once Again With
Preventive Measures
Iberia
Receives Special Award From Costa Rican
Government
Araya Brothers Could Face Off For President
Iberia
Receives Special Award From Costa Rican
Government
Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias, handed the Spanish
airliner, Iberia, a special award “in
recognition of the pioneering airline in
opening the European tourist market to Costa
Rica”, in the words of the Costa Rica
Institute of Tourism.
Silvia Cairó, the airline’s international
sales manager, accepted the award during the
opening ceremonies of Costa Rica’s 25th
annual Expotur tourism marketing fair.
Iberia has flown to Costa Rica since June,
1973, and in recent years has operated a
daily direct flight from Madrid. In 2008 it
carried a total of 190,000 passengers on the
route, a 21% increase in the year. In 2009
capacity on the route will exceed 215,000
seats.
"Some 55% of Iberia’s Costa Rica-bound
passengers come from European countries
other than Spain, reflecting the Spanish
airline’s importance in connecting the
Central American country to Europe, where
Iberia serves 42 destinations," Iberia
reports.
In order of importance, the countries with
the most passengers using the Madrid-San
José route were France, Italy, Switzerland,
Germany, and the United Kingdom. All posted
increases in 2008, the largest being in
France (54%), Italy (45%) and Germany (42%).
The number of Turkish passengers on the
route tripled, while those from Russia grew
by 155%, those from Austria by 65, and those
originating in Portugal by 57%.
Iberia was recently chosen as the best
airline in the first edition of the annual
awards instituted by the prestigious
magazine Condé Nast Traveler, and visitors
to the travel website muchoviaje.com voted
it the best airline of 2007. |
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