Princess Juliana International Airport
{{short description|Airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, Sint Maarten}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Princess Juliana
International Airport
| nativename =
| image = SXMLOGO.webp
| image2 = Airport,_Terminal_JP5766234.jpg
| image-width = 250
| IATA = SXM
| ICAO = TNCM
| type = Public
| owner = Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Company N.V.
| operator =
| city-served =
| location = Sint Maarten (Saint-Martin)
| hub = Winair
| elevation-f = 14
| coordinates = {{coord|18|02|27|N|063|06|34|W|region:SX|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Sint Maarten
| pushpin_label = SXM
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sint Maarten
| website = [http://www.sxmairport.com/ sxmairport.com]
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 10/28
| r1-length-m = 2,300
| r1-surface = Asphalt concrete
| footnotes =Source: airnav.com
}}
Princess Juliana International Airport {{Airport codes|SXM|TNCM}} is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. In 2015, the airport handled 1,829,543 passengers and around 60,000 aircraft movements.sxmairport.com: [http://www.sxmairport.com/includes/pdfs/2015-Annual-Report.pdf Annual Report 2015], visited 2 March 2016 The airport serves as a hub for Winair and is the major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy and Sint Eustatius. It is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there while she was heir presumptive in 1944, the year after the airport opened. The airport has very low-altitude flyover landing approaches because one end of its runway is extremely close to the shore and Maho 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 French Collectivity of Saint Martin, called Grand Case-Espérance Airport.
History
=Foundation and early years=
The airport began as a US military airstrip in 1942 during World War II. The following year, the first commercial flight landed on 3 December 1943. The then future Queen Juliana visited 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 and control 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.{{Cite web|url=http://pjiae.com/masterplan.html|title=PJIA masterplan|access-date=2021-11-22|website=pjiae.com|archive-date=20 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320143829/http://www.pjiae.com/masterplan.html|url-status=dead}}
Phase I was a short-term program to upgrade existing facilities and improve the level of service at various points. This included widening, strengthening and renovating the runway, increasing the bearing capacity of the taxiways, construction of a new apron and an upgrade of the (old) terminal. Phase I was completed in 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://pjiae.com/phase-one.html|title=PJIA phase one|access-date=2021-11-22|website=pjiae.com|archive-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907033242/http://www.pjiae.com/phase-one.html|url-status=dead}}
Phase II included the construction of a radar facility and a new air traffic control tower, the construction of a new and more modern, {{convert|27000|m2}}, terminal, capable of handling 2.5 million passengers per year, and the construction of a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of {{convert|150|m}}, including a {{convert|60|m}} overrun, on both ends of its runway, to comply with ICAO rules. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://pjiae.com/phase-two.html|title=PJIA phase two|access-date=2021-11-22|website=pjiae.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://pjiae.com/phase-three.html|title=PJIA phase three|access-date=2021-11-22|website=pjiae.com}}
In 1994, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France signed the Franco-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.
=Development since 2010=
In July 2016, KLM announced that, starting in October, it would serve the airport with direct flights from Amsterdam instead of the triangle route via Curaçao. The previous triangle route used a Boeing 747. The new direct route would use an Airbus A330.{{cite web|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/kult-airport-st-maarten-verliert-boeing-747-klm-neue-streckenfuehrung|title=Kult-Airport St. Maarten verliert Boeing 747 (German)|date=5 July 2016}} This change ended the airport's last regularly scheduled Boeing 747 service. 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, the 747 did make a brief comeback 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274997/klm-w17-st-maarten-service-updates-as-of-28sep17/?highlight=klm|title=KLM W17 St. Maarten service updates as of 28SEP17|publisher=Routes Online|date=28 September 2017}} In September 2018, KLM officials confirmed that they hoped to resume direct flights between Amsterdam and St. Maarten by November 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/all-good-news-at-state-of-the-industry-st-maarten-event|title=All good news at State of the Industry St. Maarten event{{dash}}Direct KLM flights to return|publisher=The Daily Herald|date=21 September 2018|access-date=2 October 2018}}{{update-inline|date=February 2024}}
On 6 September 2017, the airport suffered significant damage when Hurricane Irma struck 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.{{Cite news|date=2017-09-06|title=World famous St Maarten airport destroyed by Hurricane Irma|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/96582686/world-famous-st-maarten-airport-destroyed-by-hurricane-irma|access-date=2021-11-22|website=Stuff|language=en}} The airport reopened on 10 October 2017 using temporary facilities while repair work commenced.{{cite web |url=http://www.sxmairport.com/news-20171005-Rebuilding-of-SXM-Airport-terminal-building-will-commence-soon.php|title=Rebuilding of SXM Airport Terminal Building Will Commence Soon |website=smxairport.com |publisher=Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company|date=5 October 2017|access-date=15 October 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83720-back-under-roof|title=Back under roof|website=thedailyherald.sx|publisher=The Daily Herald|date=17 December 2018|access-date=3 January 2019}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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. On 15 October 2024 the new arrival hall has been reopened featuring improved baggage handling systems, streamlined immigration and customs processes. Reconstruction of the terminal was completed by Ballast Nedam.{{Cite web |title=PJIAE N.V. and Ballast Nedam International Projects B.V. conducts official signing to signify the start of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project. |url=https://www.sxmairport.com/news-082621-news-PJIAE-N-V-and-Ballast-Nedam-Internationa-Projects-B-V-conducts-official-signing-to-signify-the-start-of-the-Airport-Terminal-Reconstruction-Project.php |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=www.sxmairport.com}}
Facilities
=Runway=
The airport has a single runway numbered 10/28, measuring {{convert|7546|×|148|ft}}. It was renumbered from 09/27 in late 2008.{{Cite web|title=AirNav: TNCM{{dash}}Princess Juliana International Airport|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/TNCM|access-date=2021-11-22|website=www.airnav.com}}
Pilots guided by GNSS take a more efficient approach than those operating under VFR.{{Cite AV media | last=KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |title=KLM Cockpit Tales: Part 3{{dash}}Big plane, short runway | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=116&v=7GZ3fSDFevE| date=February 2, 2015}} Local airport rules prohibit aircraft from flying lower than {{Convert|500|ft|}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/TNCM|title=AirNav: TNCM{{dash}}Princess Juliana International Airport|website=www.airnav.com|access-date=2018-09-17}}
Arriving aircraft approach the island on the last section of the final approach for Runway 10, following a 3° glide slope flying low over the famous Maho Beach. The proximity of Maho Beach to the runway has made the airport one of the world's favorite places among planespotters despite the dangers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/caribbean-st-martin-princess-juliana-airport-reopens/|title=The Caribbean's most spectacular airport has reopened|publisher=Telegraph|author=Soo Kim|date=4 October 2017}} In 2017 a New Zealand woman died from injuries sustained by jet blast from a departing aircraft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/new-zealand-woman-dies-jet-blast-worlds-scariest-airport-st-maarten|title=New Zealand woman dies after jet blast at world's 'scariest' airport|work=Guardian|access-date=2019-11-13}} Tourists have been often criticised for dangerous behavior on the beach.{{Cite web|url=https://travel.nine.com.au/2018/07/10/13/35/couple-slammed-for-acrobatic-plane-stunt-maho-beach|title=Travellers slammed for 'close call' plane stunt at famous beach|publisher=Nine|author=Katherine Scott|date=10 July 2018}}
=Apron=
The main apron measures {{convert|72500|m2|sqft}} with another {{convert|5000|m2|sqft}} on the eastern apron. For freight handling a dedicated apron of {{convert|7000|m2|sqft}} is available.{{Cite web|url=http://pjiae.com/pdfs/company-profile.pdf|title=PJIA|access-date=2021-11-22|website=pjiae.com|archive-date=4 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304050453/http://www.pjiae.com/pdfs/company-profile.pdf|url-status=dead}}
=Terminal=
Designed to handle some 2.5 million passengers annually, the new four-story terminal building offered (at least until the arrival of Hurricane Irma) {{convert|30500|m2|sqft}} of floor space and was fully air-conditioned. Available facilities included 46 check-in desks, 10 transit desks and 13 boarding gates. There were 20 immigration booths for arriving passengers and five exit-control booths for departing passengers.{{cite web|url=http://www.sxmairport.com/airport-info.php|title=Princess Juliana International Airport|access-date=28 November 2016}} 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=
To accommodate the growing international and local traffic of private aircraft, PJIA has a fixed-base operator building, offering office space and private lounges with dedicated customs.
=Tower=
Since official opening of the new control tower, PJIA air traffic controllers have two radar systems at their disposal with ranges of {{convert|50|nmi|km}} and {{convert|250|nmi|km}}. PJIA controllers manage 4,000 square NM of airspace, known as the Juliana TCA, around the airport. Besides providing approach, tower and ground control at PJIA, these controllers also provide approach control for Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (Anguilla), L'Espérance Airport (French Saint Martin), Gustaf III Airport (Saint Barthélemy), F.D. Roosevelt Airport (St. Eustatius) and Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (Saba).
=Navigation=
Airlines and destinations
=Passenger=
The following airlines provide daily or weekly service to the following destinations:
{{Airport-dest-list
| Air Canada | Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau,{{cite web |title=Air Canada NW24 Sun Destinations Service Changes – 26JUN24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240627-acnw24sun |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=27 June 2024}} Toronto–Pearson{{cite web|url=https://www.paxnews.com/news/airline/air-canada-expand-sun-network-55-caribbean-us-destinations-winter|title=Air Canada to expand sun network this winter with more access to Tulum & St. Maarten|publisher=PAX News|date=June 6, 2024|access-date=February 26, 2025}}
| Air Caraïbes | Paris–Orly (resumes 12 December 2025){{cite web |title=Air Caraïbes Resumes Paris – St. Maarten Service From Dec 2025 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250513-txnw25sxm |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=13 May 2025}}
| Air Century | Santo Domingo–La Isabela
| Air France | Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Seasonal: Pointe-à-Pitre{{cite web |title=Air France Revises Pointe-a-Pitre – St. Maarten Service From June 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240606-afns24ptpsxm |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=6 June 2024}}
| Air Transat | Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau,{{cite web|url=https://www.paxnews.com/news/airline/air-transat-announces-2023-24-winter-flight-program|title=Air Transat unveils 2023-24 winter program for ON, QC & Maritimes|publisher=PAX News|access-date=February 26, 2025}} Toronto–Pearson
| American Airlines | Charlotte, Miami, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare (begins 8 November 2025),{{cite web|url=https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/united-states-costa-rica-guatemala-new-american-airlines-expansion-at-chicago-ohare-enhances-international-tourism-connections/|title=United States, Costa Rica, Guatemala: New American Airlines Expansion at Chicago O’Hare Enhances International Tourism Connections|website=Travel and Tour World|date=May 2, 2025|accessdate=May 3, 2025}} New York–JFK{{cite web|title=American Airlines Enhances Winter Schedule with 8 Exciting New Routes to Latin America and the Caribbean|url=https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/american-airlines-enhances-winter-schedule-with-8-exciting-new-routes-to-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/|website=Travel and Tour World|date=16 May 2024 |access-date=17 May 2024}}
| Anguilla Air Services | Anguilla
| Arajet | Santo Domingo–Las Américas
| Caribbean Airlines | Barbados, Kingston–Norman Manley, Port of Spain
| Coastal Air | Anguilla
| Copa Airlines | Panama City–Tocumen
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, New York–JFK
Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul{{cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/trade-snow-sunshine-deltas-new-flights-msp-aruba-st-maarten-and-more|title= Trade snow for sunshine: Delta's new flights from MSP to Aruba, St. Maarten and more|date=Jun 21, 2024}}{{better|independent source needed|date=December 2024}}
| Frontier Airlines | San Juan
| JetBlue | New York–JFK
Seasonal: Boston{{cn|date=December 2024}}
| KLM | Amsterdam, Port of Spainhttps://www.flightera.net/en/route/TNCM/TTPP/KL/
| La Compagnie | Seasonal charter: Newark{{cite web |title=Business Class Airline La Compagnie Launches Service To The Caribbean |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewerner/2024/02/19/business-class-airline-la-compagnie-launches-service-to-the-caribbean/ |website=Forbes |access-date=7 September 2024}}
| {{nowrap|Sky High}} | Santo Domingo–Las Américas
| Spirit Airlines | Fort Lauderdale
| St Barth Commuter | St. Barthélemy
| Sun Country Airlines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul{{cn|date=December 2024}}
| Sunrise Airways | Antigua,{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240712-s6jul24sxm | title=Sunrise Airways Expands St. Maarten Service from late-July 2024 }} Port-au-Prince, St. Kitts{{cite web |title=Sunrise Airways NW24 Caribbean Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241002-s6nw24 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=2 October 2024}}
| Trans Anguilla Airways | Anguilla
| United Airlines | Newark
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare,{{cn|date=December 2024}} Washington–Dulles{{cn|date=December 2024}}
| {{nowrap|West Indies Helicopters}} | St. Barthélemy, St. Martin
| WestJet | Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Montreal–Trudeau (begins May 30, 2025)https://www.travelweek.ca/news/tour-operators/westjet-flights-for-sunwing-vacations-packages-starting-may-29/
| Winair | Antigua, Aruba{{ref|1|1}}, Barbados,{{cite web |title=Winair NW24 Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240924-wmnw24 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=24 September 2024}} Bonaire{{ref|2|2}}, Castries, Curaçao, Dominica–Douglas-Charles, Fort-de-France,{{cite web |title=Winair Adds Fort-de-France – Dominica Sector From April 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240411-wmapr24fdfdom |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=11 April 2024}} Montserrat, Nevis, Port-au-Prince, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Vincent–Argyle, Tortola
}}
;Notes
=Cargo=
{{airport-dest-list
| Air Cargo Carriers[https://www.aircargocarriers.com/scheduled-routes/ aircargocarriers.com{{dash}}Scheduled Routes] retrieved 3 March 2024 | San Juan
| Amerijet International[https://amerijet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schedule-SB-Effective-010824-R1-fillable-2.pdf amerijet.com{{dash}}Flight Schedule retrieved 3 March 2024] | Miami
}}
Statistics
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=SXM}}
Accidents and incidents
File:Wreckage of Skyway Enterprises Shorts 360 N380MQ Martin Uzzell.jpg Flight 7101]]
- On 21 December 1972, a De Havilland Canada Twin Otter operated by Air Guadeloupe on behalf of Air France crashed at night into the ocean near Sint Maarten, en route from Guadeloupe; all 11 passengers on board, along with both pilots, died.{{Cite web |title=Accident 330298 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/330298 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202000622/https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/330298 |archive-date=2 December 2024 |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=Aviation Safety Network}}
- On 29 October 2014, Skyway Enterprises Flight 7101, a Shorts SD-360 (registration N380MQ) flying on behalf of FedEx crashed into the ocean {{cvt|2|nmi|km}} southwest of the airport, killing both pilots. The investigation concluded that the pilot flying suffered from a night-time somatogravic illusion after the flaps were retracted, causing the pilot to pitch the plane down into the sea.{{cite web |last1=Hradecky |first1=Simon |title=Crash: Skyway Enterprises SH36 at Sint Maarten on Oct 29th 2014, impacted waters shortly after takeoff |url=https://avherald.com/h?article=47c88e00&opt=0 |website=The Aviation Herald |access-date=19 July 2024}}
- On 12 July 2017, Caribbean Airlines Flight 457, a Boeing 737-800 (registration 9Y-TAB), was taking off from runway 10 when the jet blast from the engines knocked over a woman from New Zealand, causing serious injuries. The woman was pronounced dead at hospital.{{cite web |last1=Hradecky |first1=Simon |title=Accident: Caribbean B738 at Sint Maarten on Jul 12th 2017, jet blast blows woman over|url=https://avherald.com/h?article=4ab93eab&opt=0 |website=The Aviation Herald |access-date=19 July 2024}}
In popular culture
- Princess Juliana International Airport is the airport featured in the free demo version of Microsoft Flight Simulator X. In the full version of the program, it is the destination on the mission called "Caribbean Landing" where a player can land a Bombardier CRJ-700 on runway 10.{{primary source inline|date=July 2020}}
- The History Channel program Most Extreme Airports ranks Princess Juliana Airport as the 4th-most dangerous airport in the world.Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; 26 August 2010
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Princess Juliana Airport}}
- [http://www.sxmairport.com/ Princess Juliana International Airport] (Official Website)
- {{GCM|TNCM|TNCM/SXM|source=DAFIF}}
- {{NWS-current|TNCM}}
- {{ASN|SXM}}
{{portalbar|Aviation|Netherlands|Caribbean}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Airports in the Netherlands}}
Category:Airports in Sint Maarten
Category:1943 establishments in Sint Maarten