Tighter Security Controls At Costa Rica’s Airports For US Bound Flights

by: insidecostarica.com

At the request of the United States the Dirección General de Aviación Civil (DGAC) has tightened its security protocols at the Juan Santamaría (San José) and Daniel Oduber (Libera) international airports on flights to the US.

The measure follows the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas day on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

Among the changes are that passengers will not be able to carry on their carry on any powdered substance. Items like coffee, sugar, salt, cacao or powdered milk are a no on, unless they are purchased within the terminal’s retail stores.

Jorge Fernández, director of Aviación Civil, is emphatic that passengers travelling to the US should buy items like coffee only from stores in the airport terminal – these are the stores beyond the security checks, near the boarding gates.

The only exception to the rule, according to Fernández are prescribed medical items and infant formula and milk. However, these items will be closely inspected by the Policía Aeroportuaria (airport police) before boarding.

The restrictions on liquids, like gels, creams, toothpaste, etc, continues if they are in packaging over 100ml.

Also xray machines and metal detectors will continue to inspect carry on luggage.

Fernández said that in addition to all of this, passengers on US bound flights will have to submit to a final boarding inspection, this being done by the airlines, independent of the security checks and controsl of the DGAC.

Although the tightened security measures are geared towards US bound flihts, Copa airlines, part Continental airlines, said it would be adhering to the US security measures though Copa has no direct flights to the US from Costa Rica.

The director of the Policía de Vigilancia Aérea stationed at the Santamaría and Oduber airports, Glen Pacheco, said that passengers can expect more exhaustive checks to impede passengers from boarding with any dangerous substance or material.