Signature Aviation just announced they’re building a dedicated private aviation terminal at LIR (Guanacaste Airport), scheduled to open in 2026. This is significant.

If you’ve flown into Liberia, you know the airport has improved dramatically over the past decade. The main terminal got a major upgrade back in 2012, and they just finished a $3.3 million lounge expansion this past March. But this? This is different.

What They’re Actually Building

We’re talking about a completely separate facility for private jets – not just a fancy lounge tacked onto the existing terminal. The General & Business Aviation Terminal (G&BAT) will have its own customs and immigration processing, direct ramp access, and all the amenities you’d expect: VIP lounge, conference room, EV charging stations.

Signature Aviation is partnering with Bambú Construction (a Costa Rican firm) and Aerologística to build and operate it. They’re using local materials and designing it to fit Costa Rica’s sustainability push, which honestly makes sense given how much the country markets itself on environmental responsibility.

The Real Impact

I’ve been watching Guanacaste’s tourism infrastructure evolve for years now. Every time accessibility improves, property demand follows. It’s not immediate, and it’s not always obvious, but the pattern holds.

Right now, if you’re flying private to the Pacific coast, you’re still dealing with the commercial terminal process – just with slightly better treatment. That’s fine for a vacation, but if you’re a business owner considering regular trips, or someone thinking about buying property here and wanting easy access? The friction adds up.

Remove that friction, and suddenly Guanacaste becomes competitive with other luxury beach destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico that already have dedicated private aviation facilities.

The employment aspect matters too. Construction jobs now, operational jobs later. Aerologística is the leading ground handler in Costa Rica, so this isn’t some fly-by-night operation that’ll struggle to maintain standards.

Playas del Coco – The large beach town which is the closest to the Liberia International Airport. This photo shows the north end of the beach, where you’ll find Las Palmas condos.

Timing and Context

LIR has been steadily expanding capacity since 2010. They’ve added more international routes, upgraded the runway to handle larger aircraft, and now they’re tackling the high-end private aviation market that’s been underserved.

The March 2025 lounge expansion included a pet relief area, wider corridors, and a mezzanine retail space. Small improvements, but they show the airport authority is paying attention to passenger experience, not just throughput.

This private terminal is the logical next step. When you see infrastructure investments stacking up like this – especially ones targeting specific market segments – it usually signals confidence in long-term growth.

What I’m Watching

Property values near the airport have already appreciated significantly over the past five years. Whether this terminal directly impacts that trend remains to be seen, but improved access for high-net-worth travelers generally correlates with increased interest in luxury real estate and vacation rentals.

I’m also curious how this affects competition between LIR and San José’s SJO airport. LIR already has the advantage for Pacific coast access – adding premium private jet services just widens that gap.

The 2026 timeline gives the region about a year to prepare. If you’re in the vacation rental market, hospitality sector, or considering property investment, this is worth keeping on your radar.

Following infrastructure developments in Guanacaste? We track these trends because they matter for property values and investment opportunities. Reach out if you want to discuss what’s happening in specific areas.