Private Aviation Is Shifting South: What Operators Should Know About Costa Rica and the Caribbean

Business aviation demand is not moving uniformly across the Americas. Recent flight activity reveals a clear regional divide—and valuable opportunities for operators flying to Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

According to WINGX, South American business jet departures increased 14.1% year over year during Week 42 of 2026. The Caribbean grew 13.3%, Florida advanced 3.5%, and Colombia recorded a remarkable 57% increase.

Meanwhile, activity declined 26.7% in Central America and 28.5% in Mexico. These figures suggest that operators, FBOs and service providers should avoid treating Latin America as a single aviation market.

South America and Florida Are Driving Opportunity

Florida remains Costa Rica’s natural gateway for private aviation, while Colombia, Brazil and Argentina are increasingly important regional sources of traffic.

Fractional aviation is also outperforming other operating models. The latest JETNET benchmark identifies NetJets as the world’s leading operator, representing approximately 13.4% of global business jet activity, while Flexjet continues expanding at a double-digit rate.

For Costa Rica, this creates opportunities to develop direct relationships with fractional operators, aircraft-management companies and flight departments operating midsize, super-midsize and large-cabin aircraft.

Caribbean Peak Season Requires Earlier Planning

Demand across the Caribbean is increasing just as operational capacity becomes more restricted.

During the winter season, airports such as St. Maarten, Grand Cayman and St. Thomas can face limited overnight parking. Aircraft without confirmed parking at St. Maarten may be restricted to a 60-to-90-minute passenger drop-off before repositioning.

Operators must also distinguish between landing permission, parking approval and passenger-processing availability. A 24-hour airport does not necessarily provide 24-hour customs, FBO or VIP-terminal services.

CARICOM has also replaced its former eAPIS portal with the new MDEX platform. Previous accounts do not transfer automatically, making advance registration essential for uninterrupted operations.

A New Model for Private Aviation Infrastructure

At NBAA-BACE 2026, NetJets and Signature Aviation introduced a significant example of operator–FBO cooperation: a new exclusive-use facility at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.

The development includes a private terminal, two hangars, preferred ramp space for approximately 25 aircraft, direct vehicle-to-aircraft access and a 24/7 service hub.

The lesson extends beyond Las Vegas. Private aviation infrastructure is increasingly being designed around operator relationships, predictable traffic and consistent service standards—not simply fuel sales or passenger lounges.

For growing destinations such as Guanacaste, the strongest model will combine premium facilities with guaranteed operational performance, ground transportation, crew logistics and dedicated support for high-volume operators.

Costa Rica as a Regional Operating Partner

Aerologistica provides private aviation support at San José–Juan Santamaría (SJO), Guanacaste–Liberia (LIR) and Tobías Bolaños (SYQ).

Our services include ground handling, landing and overflight permits, flight coordination, fuel arrangements, customs and immigration assistance, VIP transportation, catering and 24/7 operational support.

As demand grows across South America, Florida and the Caribbean, Costa Rica is positioned to become more than a destination. It can serve as a reliable operating base, technical stop and regional support point for private aviation throughout the Americas.

The aircraft may determine the range. Reliable local support determines whether the mission works.