TICOS - Líneas Aéreas de Costa Rica (San José Juan Santamaría) is the name of a new airline that has begun the process of certification and intends to take over the routes recently abandoned by TACA International Airlines (San Salvador International) subsidary LACSA Costa Rica (San José Juan Santamaría) after its complete merger with Avianca (Bogotá). According to Costa Rica's General Directorate of Civil Aviation (Dirección General de Aviación Civil - DGAC), a proposal outlining the airline's plans has been submitted for consideration. DGAC sub-director, Mr Alvaro Vargas, said "the new airline is in the process of preparing financial and feasibility studies, to operate three to five Airbus aircraft." Among the consequences on the Costa Ricans were the loss of 261 jobs as well as TACA's recent axing of direct flights from San José Juan Santamaría to Los Angeles International, New York JFK, Havana International, Quito International and Guayaquil. According to Costa Rican press reports, DGAC is now in the process of obtaining outside legal counsel to research and recommend sanctions against TACA.