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Princess Juliana International Airport, the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, was named after Princess Juliana of the House of Orange, who landed there in 1944, a year after the airport opened. Princess Juliana, born in 1909, was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik, and was designated as the future queen from birth. The airport, located on the Dutch side of the island, is colloquially known as PJIA, Airport Juliana, and SXM.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Acronyms | SXM, PJIA, PJIAE |
| Location | St. Maarten, Caribbean Island of Saint Martin |
| Named After | Princess Juliana of the House of Orange, later Queen Juliana of the Netherlands |
| Year Named | 1944 |
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What You'll Learn
- Princess Juliana Airport was named after Princess Juliana of the House of Orange, who visited in 1944
- Juliana was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik, making her the designated queen from birth
- The airport is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten
- It is colloquially known as PJIA, Airport Juliana, SXM, and St. Maartin Airport
- Princess Juliana Airport is one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world
Princess Juliana Airport was named after Princess Juliana of the House of Orange, who visited in 1944
Princess Juliana International Airport, also known as SXM, is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. It is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. The airport is named after Princess Juliana of the House of Orange, who visited in 1944.
Princess Juliana, born in 1909, was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands. As such, she was designated as the future queen from birth. During World War II, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Suriname were the only parts of the kingdom that were not occupied by German or Japanese forces. This made the oil refineries on Aruba and Curacao vital assets for the Allied war effort, as they produced a significant portion of the fuel needed by American warplanes.
In 1942, construction began on what would become Princess Juliana International Airport. The flat, sandy isthmus bordering the Simpson Bay Lagoon provided the ideal location for an airstrip on the otherwise hilly island of St. Maarten. The airport officially opened on March 4, 1944, when Princess Juliana of Orange of the Netherlands inaugurated a civilian airport on the site. This event marked the airport being named after the princess, who was the heiress to the Dutch throne at the time.
Princess Juliana became queen of the Netherlands in 1948, upon the abdication of her mother, Queen Wilhelmina. She was the 12th member of the House of Orange to become the head of state of the Netherlands. As queen, she was known for her warm and sociable personality and her keen interest in the societies she ruled over. During her reign, Indonesia (1949) and Suriname (1975) gained independence, and the Netherlands Antilles became an autonomous state within the kingdom in 1954. Queen Juliana visited St. Maarten many times during her reign, often staying at the Royal Pasanggrahan Hotel, where portraits of her and her husband, Prince Bernhard, can still be found.
Princess Juliana International Airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. In 1964, the airport was remodelled and relocated to its current site, with a new terminal and control tower built to accommodate the increasing civil aviation traffic. Further expansions and upgrades took place from 1997 to 2006, and the airport continues to be a crucial hub in the Caribbean, serving as a gateway to the island of Sint Maarten and the smaller Leeward Islands.
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Juliana was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik, making her the designated queen from birth
Princess Juliana International Airport, also known as PJIA, SXM, or simply "Airport Juliana", is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. It is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944 while she was the heir presumptive, a year after the airport opened. Juliana was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik, making her the designated queen from birth. During World War II, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Surinam were the only parts not occupied by the Germans or the Japanese. The oil refineries on Aruba and Curacao played an important role in the Allied war effort, producing a significant portion of the fuel for American warplanes.
Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana had a close escape from the Netherlands, which was under German occupation at the time. A German bomb exploded just 200 yards from them as they boarded a ship. If they had been hit, this would have resulted in a succession crisis, as both Wilhelmina and Juliana were the only children of their parents. Wilhelmina continued to reside in Britain, becoming a symbol of resistance against the German oppressors.
Princess Juliana first visited the airport that would bear her name in 1944, a year after it opened. The airport officially became known as Princess Juliana International Airport in 1964 when it was remodelled and relocated to its current site, with a new terminal building and control tower. The airport has since undergone several upgrades and expansions to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.
Juliana became queen of the Netherlands in 1948 when her mother, Queen Wilhelmina, abdicated. She was the 12th member of the House of Orange to become the head of state of the Netherlands. As queen, she was known for her warm and sociable personality and her keen interest in the societies she led. During her reign, Indonesia (1949) and Surinam (1975) gained independence, and the Netherlands Antilles became an autonomous state within the Kingdom in 1954. Queen Juliana visited St. Maarten many times during her reign, often staying at the Royal Pasanggrahan Hotel, where portraits of her and her husband, Prince Bernhard, can still be found.
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The airport is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten
Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is the main airport on the island, serving as a hub for Winair and as the major gateway to the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. The airport is situated close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon, approximately 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten.
The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944 while she was heir presumptive, a year after the airport opened. Princess Juliana, born in 1909, was the sole child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik and was designated as the future queen from birth. In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina abdicated, and Juliana ascended the throne as the 12th member of the House of Orange to become the head of state of the Netherlands.
The airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. In 1964, it was remodelled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower. Further upgrades were carried out in 1985 and 2001. Due to increasing passenger traffic, the airport is currently undergoing modernisation following a three-phased master plan commissioned in 1997. The first phase focused on upgrading existing facilities and improving the level of service. The second phase involved constructing a new radar facility, control tower, and a modern terminal building to enhance capacity. The third phase includes extending the terminal building and constructing a parallel taxiway system.
Princess Juliana International Airport is known for its low-altitude flyover landing approaches due to its proximity to the shore and Maho Beach. It is considered one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world. The airport handles a significant volume of aircraft and passenger traffic, with around 1.8 million passengers passing through annually.
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It is colloquially known as PJIA, Airport Juliana, SXM, and St. Maartin Airport
Princess Juliana International Airport is colloquially known as PJIA, Airport Juliana, SXM, and St. Maarten Airport. PJIA is an acronym formed from the initials of the airport's name, Princess Juliana International Airport. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944 when she was heir presumptive, the year after the airport opened.
The airport is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. It is the main airport on the island and serves as a hub for Winair, as well as being the major gateway for the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius.
The airport was originally a US military airstrip during World War II, with the first commercial flight landing in December 1943. It was renamed after Queen Juliana's visit in 1944. The airport has undergone several upgrades and remodellings since then, including in 1964, 1985, and 2001.
Due to its location, with one end of its runway extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach, the airport is known for its very low-altitude flyover landing approaches. This proximity to the beach and surrounding areas has also led to some incidents, with Princess Juliana Airport ranked as the fourth most dangerous airport in the world by the History Channel program Most Extreme Airports.
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Princess Juliana Airport is one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world
Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean, is one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world. The airport, named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, offers a unique and thrilling plane-spotting experience that attracts enthusiasts from all over the globe.
The airport's main claim to fame is its extremely low-altitude flyover landing approaches. This is due to the proximity of one end of its runway to the shore and the famous Maho Beach. Maho Beach is a small, narrow strip of sand located just a short distance from the runway, allowing visitors to witness planes passing at incredibly low altitudes during take-off and landing. The beach's accessibility, stunning backdrop, and the rarity of finding such close-up views of aircraft in operation make it a highly sought-after spot for plane spotters and photographers alike.
The airport's single runway also contributes to its popularity among plane spotters. With all aircraft taking off and landing on the same runway, photographers can easily capture the action without missing a beat. Additionally, the airport offers six other alternative viewing spots, including Airport Road and Spotters Paradise Apartments, providing uninterrupted views of the runway and taxiway for a variety of photographic opportunities.
The combination of the low-altitude approaches, the short runway, and the stunning Caribbean setting makes Princess Juliana Airport a plane spotter's paradise. The airport's reputation has spread widely, and it has become a go-to destination for aviation enthusiasts and photographers seeking that perfect shot of aircraft against a breathtaking tropical backdrop.
While the airport's fame among plane spotters is undeniable, it has also gained recognition for other reasons. The History Channel program "Most Extreme Airports" ranked Princess Juliana Airport as the fourth-most dangerous airport in the world due to the unique challenges posed by its low-altitude approaches and proximity to the beach.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Juliana Airport was named in 1944, the year after it opened, when the then-heiress to the Dutch throne, Princess Juliana, visited the island using the airport.
Princess Juliana of the House of Orange was born in 1909 to Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik. She was the sole child of the royal pair, and hence designated queen-to-be from birth.
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world. It is also one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region. The airport's proximity to Maho Beach allows photographers to capture unique images of jetliners, turquoise oceans, and sandy beaches in one frame.
