Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaria

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The project consists of the management, operation, rehabilitation and expansion of Aeropuerto International Juan Santamaria (AIJS) in Costa Rica. The airport is located 17km from downtown San José, Costa Rica. It is the busiest airport in Central America, handling an estimated 1.8 million passengers. The airport is an FAA Category 1 installation serving both international and local passengers, as well as handling air cargo and providing aircraft maintenance services. International passenger destinations account for 95% of the traffic. Growth has averaged 10.9% annually over the past decade, and traffic is expected to increase 5% annually reaching approximately 2.5 million passengers by 2010. The Airport Group International Consortium was selected by the Government of Costa Rica to manage and operate the AIJS for a period of 20 years. The Consortium will be responsible for the administration and operation of AIJS, the airport services and the construction of the capital improvement works. The execution of these works is to be accomplished in accordance with the 1997 General Plan of Development for the Costa Rican Government (Master Plan) developed by the TAMS Consulting Company and in which capital improvements are conducted in 4 stages. The Master Plan consists of development and expansion of airside services (including new taxiway, aircraft holding area and expansion of the ramp to 16 aircraft positions); expansion of the passenger terminal building and the waiting areas; development and expansion of the landside area (access roads, parking lots). Specific works to be accomplished in Stages I/II have been the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment (specifically required under Costa Rican environmental law). The EIA addresses the "no-action" alternative in which the capital improvements would not be performed. Works to be accomplished during Stages III/IV have been defined more generally, with decisions for development to be based on the result of revisions and an update of the Master Plan; they are indicated in the EIA as projected work. An update of the Master Plan is to be performed at least every 4 years.