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The Caribbean island of Saint Martin is serviced by two airports. The main airport is Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM), located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, handling 1.8 million passengers annually. The second airport is located in the town of Grand Case on the French side of the island, known as Grand Case Airport L’Esperance (SFG).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Airport Code | SXM |
| Location | Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten |
| Year of Opening | 1944 |
| Operating Hours | 07:00–21:00 |
| Number of Passengers (2015) | 1,829,543 |
| Aircraft Movements (2015) | 60,000 |
| Aircraft Handled | Ranging in size from Cessnas to Boeing 747s |
| Hotels Nearby | Sapphire Beach Resort, Azure Hotel, Mary's Boon, Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm Beach Resort, The Horny Toad, Atrium Beach Hotel & Spa, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, LaVista en Hilton Grand Vacations Flamingo Beach Resort |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: 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 the Simpson Bay area. It is one of the oldest and
The airport is located 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten. It is named after Princess, later Queen, Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, the year after the airport opened, when she was heir presumptive. The airport's designator code, SXM, has become a popular local nickname for the destination as a whole.
The airport handles a variety of aircraft each year, ranging in size from Cessnas to Boeing 747s, and caters to 1.8 million passengers annually, primarily from the Americas, Europe and the Caribbean. It has very low-altitude flyover landing approaches because one end of its runway is extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach. In 2016, the airport's last regularly scheduled Boeing 747 service ended, replaced by an Airbus A330 direct route between Amsterdam and St. Maarten.
In 2017, the airport suffered significant damage when Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 hurricane. The roof was blown off the terminal, the jetways were damaged, and there was flooding and sand on the runway.
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Location and history
Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: 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. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, located 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, the year after the airport opened, when she was heir presumptive.
The airport began as an American airstrip in 1942, during the Second World War. The first commercial flight landed on 3 December 1943. In 1944, the then future Queen Juliana visited the island using the airport, and it was subsequently named after her. In 1964, the airport was remodelled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower. The facilities were upgraded in 1985 and 2001. 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 "risk flights", requiring arriving passengers to have valid travel papers for both sides of the island.
The airport handles a variety of aircraft a year, ranging in size from Cessnas to Boeing 747s, making it the second busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean. It caters to 1.8 million passengers annually, originating primarily from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean. It serves as a hub for Winair and is the major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. PJIA controllers manage 4,000 square NM of airspace, known as the Juliana TCA, around the airport.
The airport has very low-altitude flyover landing approaches because one end of its runway is extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach. Maho Beach, located at the end of the runway, is one of the most popular plane-spotting sites in the world. Notice boards with flight information are posted around the beach, allowing plane enthusiasts to relax and watch planes take off from the Caribbean island.
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Airlines and destinations
St. Martin, a vibrant Caribbean island, is served by two airports: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and L'Espérance Airport (SFG). Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the island in Sint Maarten, is the primary airport and serves a large number of visitors. L'Espérance Airport, on the other hand, is situated on the French side of the island and primarily caters to regional flights and smaller aircraft.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
- This airport is well-connected to various destinations in the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Some of the major airlines serving this airport include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Air France, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
- American Airlines offers direct flights from cities such as Miami, Charlotte, and New York.
- Delta Air Lines operates direct services from Atlanta and New York.
- United Airlines provides flights from Newark, Washington D.C., and other locations.
- JetBlue Airways is known for its non-stop routes from New York (JFK) and Boston.
- Air France provides direct connections from Paris, making it a convenient option for European travellers.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies from Amsterdam, another good choice for European passengers.
L'Espérance Airport (SFG)
- This airport mainly handles regional flights and smaller aircraft operations.
- It is recommended for travellers intending to take day trips to nearby islands due to its smaller size and efficient check-in process.
- Corsair operates international flights from Paris Orly to this airport.
- Sun Wing and Air Transat provide seasonal services from Canada.
- L'Espérance Airport is conveniently located for travellers flying from within the French Caribbean.
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Hotels near the airport
St. Martin is served by Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), located in the Simpson Bay area of the island. The airport is one of the oldest and busiest in the region, handling a variety of aircraft and catering to 1.8 million passengers annually.
Simpson Bay Area
- Azure Hotel
- Mary's Boon Beach Resort & Spa
- Royal Islander Resort La Terrasse
- Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm Beach Resort
- The Horny Toad
Pelican / Billy’s Folly Area
- Atrium Beach Hotel & Spa
- Simpson Bay Resort & Marina
- La Vista and Hilton Grand Vacations Flamingo Beach Resort
- Sapphire Beach Resort
Philipsburg Area
- Little Bay Beach
- Morgan Resort
- Flamingo Resort
Marigot Area
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Saint Martin's second airport
St. Martin is served by two airports: Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) and Grand Case L'Espérance Airport (SFG). While Princess Juliana International Airport is the primary airport on the island, Grand Case L'Espérance Airport serves as the second airport.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Princess Juliana International Airport is located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, serving as a crucial gateway to the island of Sint Maarten and a major hub in the Caribbean. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944 when she was the heir presumptive, a year after the airport opened. SXM is the designator code for the airport and has become a popular local nickname for the destination.
The airport handles a wide range of aircraft, from Cessnas to Boeing 747s, and caters to around 1.8 million passengers annually, mainly from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean. It serves as a hub for Winair and is a vital gateway for smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius.
Grand Case L'Espérance Airport (SFG)
Grand Case L'Espérance Airport is located in the town of Grand Case on the French side of the island. While smaller in size, this airport handles regular international flights to Puerto Rico, a US territory, and the Dominican Republic. It serves regional French destinations such as St. Barths (SBH), Guadeloupe (PTP), and Martinique (FDF).
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.
Yes, there is a smaller public-use airport on the French side of the island called Grand Case-Espéra (SFG).
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.
Princess Juliana International Airport is located 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten.
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the region, catering to 1.8 million passengers annually, primarily from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
