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Princess Juliana International Airport

Coordinates:18°02′27″N063°06′34″W/ 18.04083°N 63.10944°W/18.04083; -63.10944
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Princess Juliana
International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPrincess Juliana Int'l Airport Holding Company N.V.
LocationSint Maarten(Saint-Martin)
HubforWinair
ElevationAMSL14 ft / 4 m
Coordinates18°02′27″N063°06′34″W/ 18.04083°N 63.10944°W/18.04083; -63.10944
Websitesxmairport
Map
SXM is located in Sint Maarten
SXM
SXM
Location in Sint Maarten
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 2,300 7,546 Asphalt concrete
Source: airnav[1]

Princess Juliana International Airport(IATA:SXM,ICAO:TNCM) is the main airport on the Caribbean island ofSaint Martin.The airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country ofSint Maarten,close to the shore ofSimpson Bay Lagoon.In 2015, the airport handled 1,829,543 passengers and around 60,000 aircraft movements.[2]The airport serves as a hub forWinairand is the major gateway for the smallerLeeward Islands,includingAnguilla,Saba,Saint BarthélemyandSint Eustatius.It is named after QueenJuliana of the Netherlands,who landed there while she washeir presumptivein 1944, the year after the airport opened. The airport has very low-altitude flyoverlandingapproaches because one end of its runway is extremely close to the shore andMaho Beach.While Princess Juliana International is the primary aviation gateway to the island, there is also a smaller public-use airport on the French side, in the FrenchCollectivity of Saint Martin,calledGrand Case-Espérance Airport.

History[edit]

The airport began as a US military airstrip in 1942 during World War II. The following year, first commercial flight landed on 3 December 1943. The futureQueen Julianavisited the island using the airport in 1944. Eventually, the airport was named after her. In 1964 the airport was remodeled and relocated, with a new terminal building andcontrol tower.The facilities were upgraded in 1985 and 2001.

Because of increased passenger traffic and the expected growth of passenger traffic in the near future, Princess Juliana International Airport is being heavily modernized following a three-phased masterplan, commissioned in 1997.[3]

Phase I was a short-term programme in order to upgrade existing facilities and improve the level of service at various points. This included widening, strengthening and renovating the runway, increasing thebearing capacityof the taxiways, construction of a newapronand an upgrade of the (old) terminal. Phase I was completed in 2001.[4]

Phase II included the construction of a radar facility and a newair traffic control tower,the construction of a new and more modern, 27,000 square metres (290,000 sq ft), terminal, capable of handling 2.5 million passengers per year, and the construction of a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of 150 metres (490 ft), including a 60 metres (200 ft) overrun, on both ends of its runway, to comply withICAOrules. The new air traffic control tower and the radar station commenced operations on 29 March 2004, while the new terminal opened in late October 2006.[5]The terminal has 4 jetways for large aircraft like 747s. If traffic develops as forecast, Phase III of the masterplan will be executed, consisting of an extension of the new terminal building and the construction of a full parallel taxiway system.[6]

In 1994, theKingdom of the Netherlandsand France signed theFranco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls,which allows for joint Franco-Dutch border controls on so-called "risk flights", requiring arriving passengers to have valid travel papers for both sides of the island. After some delay, the treaty was ratified in November 2006 in the Netherlands, and subsequently entered into force on 1 August 2007. Implementation has been delayed for several years by the government of Sint Maarten.

Runway after Hurricane Irma

In July 2016,KLMannounced that, starting in October, it would serve the airport with direct flights from Amsterdam instead of the triangle route viaCuraçao.The previous triangle route used aBoeing 747.The new direct route would use anAirbus A330.[7]This change ended the airport's last regularly scheduledBoeing 747service. The 747 made its last appearance at the airport on 28 October 2016. Maho Beach was almost completely covered with tourists and plane-spotters who came to witness the last landing and departure of the aircraft. In September 2017, it did make a brief return in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, operating some relief flights. At the same time KLM announced the return of the triangle route via Curaçao, this time however operated by an Airbus A330.[8]In September 2018, KLM officials confirmed that they hope to resume direct flights between Amsterdam and St. Maarten by November 2019.[9][needs update]

On 6 September 2017, the airport suffered significant damage whenHurricane Irmastruck the island as a Category 5 hurricane. Video from a Dutch military helicopter showed the roof had been blown off the terminal, the jetways were damaged, and there was a significant amount of sand (blown through the fences from Simpson Bay Beach) and flooding on the runway.[10]The airport reopened on 10 October 2017 using temporary facilities while repair work commenced.[11]Pavilions were in use during reconstruction of the main terminal. In December 2018, temporary arrival and departure facilities opened within the first level of the terminal building.[12]The entire upper floor of the terminal and the four jet-bridges were out of commission until November 2023. The reconstructed check-in area opened in January 2024. As of March 2024, arrivals are being handled by a temporary arrival facility that was constructed next to the permanent terminal building.

Facilities[edit]

AnAir CaraïbesAirbus A330-300flying overMaho Beachshortly before touch-down.
Warning sign between runway 10 and Maho Beach
Spectators at Maho Beach
Terminal interior

Runway[edit]

The airport has a single runway numbered 10/28, measuring 7,546 ft x 148 ft (2,300 m x 45 m). It was renumbered from 09/27 in late 2008.[1]

Pilots guided byGNSStake a more efficient approach than those operating underVFR.[13]Local airport rules prohibit aircraft from flying lower than 500 feet (150 m)[14]

Arriving aircraft approach the island on the last section of the final approach for Runway 10, following a 3°glide slopeflying low over the famousMaho Beach.The proximity of Maho Beach to the runway has made the airport one of the world's favorite places amongplanespottersdespite the dangers.[15]In 2017 a New Zealand woman died from injuries sustained by jet blast from a departing aircraft.[16]Tourists have been often criticised for dangerous behavior on the beach.[17]

Apron[edit]

The main apron measures 72,500 square metres (780,000 sq ft) with another 5,000 square metres (54,000 sq ft) on Eastern apron. For freight handling a dedicated apron of 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) is available.[18]

Terminal[edit]

Designed to handle some 2.5 million passengers annually, the new four-story terminal building offered (at least until the arrival ofHurricane Irma) 30,500 square metres (328,000 sq ft) of floor space and was fully air-conditioned. Available facilities included 46check-indesks, 10 transit desks and 13 boarding gates. There were 20 immigration booths for arriving passengers and five exit-control booths for departing passengers.[19]The building also featured 40 shops and food & beverage units—some unique to St. Maarten—promoted under the retail theme "So Much More".

General aviation[edit]

To accommodate the growing international and local traffic of private aircraft, PJIA has afixed-base operatorbuilding, offering office space and private lounges with dedicated customs.[18]

Tower[edit]

Since official opening of the new control tower, PJIA air traffic controllers have two radar systems at their disposal with ranges of 50 nautical miles (93 km) and 250 nautical miles (460 km). PJIA controllers manage 4,000 squareNMof airspace known as the Juliana TCA around the airport, roughly between 25 nautical miles (46 km) and 42 nautical miles (78 km) of the St Maarten VOR-DME. Besides providing approach, tower and ground control at PJIA, these controllers also provide approach control forClayton J. Lloyd International Airport(Anguilla),L'Espérance Airport(French Saint Martin),Gustaf III Airport(St. Barths),F.D. Roosevelt Airport(St. Eustatius) andJuancho E. Yrausquin Airport(Saba).

Navigation[edit]

PJIA is equipped withVOR/DMEandNDB.The airport's official operating hours are 07:00–21:00.[18]

Airlines and destinations[edit]

Passenger[edit]

The following airlines provide daily or weekly service to the following destinations:

AirlinesDestinations
Air CanadaSeasonal:Montréal–Trudeau(begins November 17, 2024),[20]Toronto–Pearson
Air CaraïbesParis–Orly(resumes 6 December 2024)[21]
Air CenturySanto Domingo–La Isabela
Air FranceParis–Charles de Gaulle
Seasonal:Pointe-à-Pitre[22]
Air TransatSeasonal:Montréal–Trudeau,Toronto–Pearson
American AirlinesCharlotte,Miami,Philadelphia
Seasonal:New York–JFK(begins 7 December 2024)[23]
Anguilla Air ServicesAnguilla
ArajetSanto Domingo–Las Américas
Caribbean AirlinesBarbados,Kingston–Norman Manley,Port of Spain
Coastal AirAnguilla,Dominica–Canefield,Nevis,St. Croix,St. Eustatius
Copa AirlinesPanama City–Tocumen
Delta Air LinesAtlanta,New York–JFK
Seasonal:Minneapolis/St. Paul(resumes December 19, 2024)[24]
Fly All WaysSeasonal charter:Paramaribo[citation needed]
Frontier AirlinesSan Juan
Seasonal:Orlando
InterCaribbean AirwaysTortola
JetBlueNew York–JFK
Seasonal:Boston
KLMAmsterdam
Silver AirwaysSan Juan
Sky HighSanto Domingo–Las Américas
Spirit AirlinesFort Lauderdale
St Barth CommuterSt. Barthélemy
Sun Country AirlinesSeasonal:Minneapolis/St. Paul
Sunwing AirlinesToronto–Pearson
Seasonal:Montreal–Trudeau
Trans Anguilla AirwaysAnguilla
United AirlinesNewark
Seasonal:Chicago–O'Hare,Washington–Dulles
West Indies HelicoptersSt. Barthélemy,St. Martin
WestJetToronto–Pearson
WinairAntigua,Aruba1,Bonaire2,Curaçao,Dominica–Canefield,Dominica–Douglas-Charles,Fort-de-France,[25]Nevis,Pointe-à-Pitre,Port-au-Prince,Saba,St. Barthélemy,St. Eustatius,St. Kitts,Santo Domingo–Las Américas,Tortola
Notes
  • ^1Winairoperates between Aruba and Sint Maarten but the flight stops in Curaçao on selected days.
  • ^2Winairoperates between Bonaire and Sint Maarten but the flight stops in Curaçao on both trips.

Cargo[edit]

AirlinesDestinations
Air Cargo Carriers[26]San Juan
Amerijet International[27]Miami

Statistics[edit]

Annual passenger traffic at SXM airport. SeeWikidata query.

Accidents and incidents[edit]

  • On 30 October 2014,Skyway Enterprises Flight 7101,aShorts SD-360on behalf ofFedEx,registration N380MQ performing flight SKZ-7101 from Sint Maarten (Dutch Caribbean) toSan Juan(Puerto Rico) with 2 crew, was climbing out of Sint Maarten's runway 28 when the aircraft lost height and impacted waters about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) off the coast (end of the runway) at about 18:35L (22:35Z). Both pilots died.[citation needed]
  • On 13 July 2017, a tourist was severely injured holding an airport fence when a jet blast from a plane taking off resulted in her losing her grip from the fence. She was transported to a local hospital where she later died.[citation needed]

In popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"AirNav: TNCM - Princess Juliana International Airport".airnav.Retrieved22 November2021.
  2. ^sxmairport:Annual Report 2015,visited 2 March 2016
  3. ^"PJIA masterplan".pjiae.Archived fromthe originalon 20 March 2012.Retrieved22 November2021.
  4. ^"PJIA phase one".pjiae.Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2011.Retrieved22 November2021.
  5. ^"PJIA phase two".pjiae.Retrieved22 November2021.
  6. ^"PJIA phase three".pjiae.Retrieved22 November2021.
  7. ^"Kult-Airport St. Maarten verliert Boeing 747 (German)".5 July 2016.
  8. ^"KLM W17 St. Maarten service updates as of 28SEP17".Routes Online. 28 September 2017.
  9. ^"All good news at State of the Industry St. Maarten event - Direct KLM flights to return".The Daily Herald. 21 September 2018.Retrieved2 October2018.
  10. ^"World famous St Maarten airport destroyed by Hurricane Irma".Stuff.6 September 2017.Retrieved22 November2021.
  11. ^"Rebuilding of SXM Airport Terminal Building Will Commence Soon".smxairport.Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company. 5 October 2017.Retrieved15 October2017.
  12. ^"Back under roof".thedailyherald.sx.The Daily Herald. 17 December 2018.Retrieved3 January2019.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2 February 2015).KLM Cockpit Tales: Part 3 - Big plane, short runway.
  14. ^"AirNav: TNCM - Princess Juliana International Airport".airnav.Retrieved17 September2018.
  15. ^Soo Kim (4 October 2017)."The Caribbean's most spectacular airport has reopened".Telegraph.
  16. ^"New Zealand woman dies after jet blast at world's 'scariest' airport".Guardian.Retrieved13 November2019.
  17. ^Katherine Scott (10 July 2018)."Travellers slammed for 'close call' plane stunt at famous beach".Nine.
  18. ^abc"PJIA"(PDF).pjiae.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2012.Retrieved22 November2021.
  19. ^"Princess Juliana International Airport".Retrieved28 November2016.
  20. ^"Air Canada NW24 Sun Destinations Service Changes – 26JUN24".Aeroroutes.Retrieved27 June2024.
  21. ^"Air Caraïbes Adds St. Maarten Nonstop Service in NW24".Aeroroutes.Retrieved1 May2024.
  22. ^"Air France Revises Pointe-a-Pitre – St. Maarten Service From June 2024".Aeroroutes.Retrieved6 June2024.
  23. ^"American Airlines Enhances Winter Schedule with 8 Exciting New Routes to Latin America and the Caribbean".Travel and Tour World.Retrieved17 May2024.
  24. ^"Trade snow for sunshine: Delta's new flights from MSP to Aruba, St. Maarten and more".21 June 2024.
  25. ^"Winair Adds Fort-de-France – Dominica Sector From April 2024".Aeroroutes.Retrieved11 April2024.
  26. ^aircargocarriers - Scheduled Routesretrieved 3 March 2024
  27. ^[https://amerijet /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schedule-SB-Effective-010824-R1-fillable-2.pdfamerijet - Flight Schedule retrieved 3 March 2024
  28. ^Most Extreme Airports;The History Channel;26 August 2010

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Princess_Juliana_International_Airport&oldid=1231215469"