Source (http://www.thebeachtimes.com/) By Ralph Nicholson
They looked a little stunned by all the attention, 258 British tourists getting off a flight that had taken exactly 11 hours and 11 minutes, stepping into both Guanacaste’s heat and a throng of reporters, photographers and camera operators. But while it might have been just another annual vacation to the weary holiday makers, eager to get to their package hotels, to the tourist industry it is another indication the Costa Rican tourism industry is alive and kicking. When First Choice Airways, one of Britain’s leading leisure airlines, touched down in Guanacaste this week, it became the first direct charter flight from Europe to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. And if to indicate they mean business, the airline arrived with a huge, refurbished, Boeing 767-300. Which immediately caused a problem. Ground crew had practiced with the hand-made, manually-operated staircase, but when they pulled it up to the front door of the airplane, it didn’t reach. After some red faces, another staircase was pulled into place. “That’s part of the problem,” said John Pratt, ground operations manager of First Choice. “It’s a big plane, and this airport is really set up for the smaller, short-haul US aircraft.” Which is why Aviation officials agreed to ship from San José a Lantis Loader, a specially-designed freight-handler which will allow baggage to be lifted high enough to load in the 767’s cargo bay.
© Ralph Nicholson
The flight, which will operate every Monday until October, is believed to be the first charter service with a first-class (or what First Choice call a Premium Star Class) section. All 60 seats were full for the incoming trip. Holiday-makers paid between $1200 and $2600 for the one and two-week packages depending upon whether they just wanted the sun and the beach, or were prepared to head inland. The flight also included 20 First Choice staff --- mostly vacation package sellers back in the United Kingdom --- who are in the country for two weeks, guests of their employer, so they can better sell packages. Rachel Holmes, from Dunstable in Bedfordshire, had won her trip because her travel agency had sold the most tickets to Costa Rica ---- 18 in all. Many others had also won the trips. “This is important,” said Alvaro Conejo, President of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism. “It is interesting because this flight is arriving during the traditionally low season and this could help stabilize the tourism industry.” For the Minister of Tourism, the arrival was more simple. “Something has to right with the destination when people are prepared to fly for 11 hours to visit Costa Rica,” he said.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste
Website: www.century21incostarica.com
Website: www.northpacificproperties.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
