Explore the captivating journey of “Tico,” the two-toed sloth, as he takes center stage on the tail of a Frontier Airlines plane, touching down in San José, Costa Rica on the morning of January 22, 2024. This extraordinary arrival was met with a special welcome at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), where representatives from Frontier Airlines, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, AERIS, and special guests gathered to celebrate this unique collaboration.
Frontier Airlines is renowned for adorning its aircraft with large-format images of unique or endangered animals from around the world, each with its own name and distinctive history. In this instance, the spotlight is on the beloved Sloth, named “Tico,” symbolizing Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity.
Tyri Squyres, Vice President of Marketing for Frontier Airlines, expressed excitement about partnering with the Costa Rican tourism industry and honoring the sloth. “Presenting ‘Tico’ in this way demonstrates the affection we have for Costa Rica and its precious national symbol,” emphasized Squyres, highlighting Frontier’s commitment to environmental protection and the preservation of endangered animals.
The collaboration received accolades from William Rodriguez, Minister of Tourism, who remarked, “Without a doubt, these joint initiatives reinforce the objectives of our sustainable tourism model committed to environmental conservation.” Rodriguez celebrated the fact that “Tico” would now serve as an ambassador of Costa Rica’s nature, soaring through the skies on the tail of the Frontier plane.
Erick Barboza, Director of Business Development at AERIS, the managing entity of Juan Santamaría International Airport, emphasized the role of initiatives like this in promoting Costa Rica as a sustainable destination with remarkable biodiversity.
The photogenic sloth, “Tico,” chosen for his charismatic personality, is a prominent resident of the Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Aranjuez de Puntarenas. In 2022, Frontier Airlines, in collaboration with the ICT, selected sloths from wildlife sanctuaries for a photo session, adhering to wildlife respect regulations. The winning photograph, captured by Costa Rican photographer Jesus Fung, led to a contest on Frontier’s social networks to name the sloth, with “Tico” emerging as the most voted name, a nod to Costa Rica’s inhabitants.
Sloths, national symbols of Costa Rica, are known for their unique characteristics and are integral to the country’s conservation efforts. The two-toed sloth, more prominent in Costa Rica, is recognized for its white faces, brown noses, and hairy skin, spending 90 percent of their lives in inverted positions in tropical forests.
Frontier Airlines currently operates direct flights from Atlanta, United States, to Juan Santamaría International Airport. With the United States being the main source market for tourists to Costa Rica, the collaboration between Frontier Airlines and the ICT further promotes the country as a must-visit destination.
As “Tico” takes flight on the tail of the Frontier plane, the story of this flying sloth unfolds, becoming a charming ambassador for Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental conservation, biodiversity, and the “pura vida” way of life.
