Roberta Aguirre
Princess Juliana International Airport, also known as SXM Airport, 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 and is known for its low-altitude flyover landing approaches, as one end of its runway is very close to Maho Beach. The airport is considered one of the best in aviation and has won multiple awards, including Best Caribbean Airport in 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Airport Code | SXM |
| Location | West side of the island, facing the Caribbean waters, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon |
| Runway Distance from Maho Beach | A couple of kilometres |
| Operating Hours | 07:00–21:00 |
| Airlines | KLM, Winair, Air Guadeloupe, Skyway Enterprises, etc. |
| Aircraft Handled | Cessna, Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Airbus A330, De Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Shorts SD-360, etc. |
| Annual Passenger Traffic | 1.8 million (in 2015) |
| Awards | Best Caribbean Airport, 2016; Bizz Award, 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Juliana International Airport
The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, the year after the airport opened and while she was heir presumptive. In 1964, the airport was remodelled and relocated, with a new terminal building and control tower. The facilities were upgraded again in 1985 and 2001, and the current terminal building was inaugurated in 2006. The airport's official operating hours are 07:00–21:00.
In 2014, a Skyway Enterprises Flight 7101 aircraft crashed into the ocean southwest of the airport, killing both pilots. In 2017, a woman from New Zealand was knocked over by the jet blast from a plane's engines and later died in hospital. In 2017, the airport suffered significant damage when Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 hurricane, blowing the roof off the terminal and causing flooding on the runway.
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Airport code SXM
SXM is the airport code for Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. The airport is close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon and is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, the year after the airport opened and while she was heir presumptive.
The airport is the second busiest in its hemisphere and serves as a hub for Winair, offering regular jet services from metropolitan centres in the United States and jumbo jet services from Paris and Amsterdam. It is also a major gateway to the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius.
In 2015, the airport handled 1,829,543 passengers and around 60,000 aircraft movements. It is currently undergoing modernisation following a three-phased masterplan commissioned in 1997. The airport's official operating hours are 07:00–21:00.
On 6 September 2017, the airport suffered significant damage when Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 hurricane. The roof of the terminal was blown off, the jetways were damaged, and there was flooding and sand on the runway. The airport reopened on 10 October 2017, using temporary facilities while repair work commenced.
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Airlines and destinations
St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, close to Simpson Bay Lagoon. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, a year after it opened. It is the main airport on the island, serving as a hub for Winair and offering access to surrounding islands.
There are 22 scheduled airlines and 12 charter services that fly to and from St. Maarten, serving a total of 34 destinations directly. These include destinations in the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Some of the airlines that offer flights to St. Maarten include:
- American Airlines
- Delta
- Spirit Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- KLM
- Winair
American Airlines, for example, offers 73 flights to or near Sint Maarten each month, including 73 flights to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) per month. JetBlue Airways offers 39 flights to SXM per month, while Delta Air Lines provides 34 flights to the same airport each month.
Winair operates flights between Aruba and Sint Maarten, with a stop in Curaçao on selected days. The airline also offers flights between Bonaire and Sint Maarten, with a stop in Curaçao on both trips.
KLM previously served the airport with direct flights from Amsterdam but switched to a triangle route via Curaçao in 2016. However, in 2018, KLM officials expressed their intention to resume direct flights between Amsterdam and St. Maarten.
When searching for flights to St. Maarten, websites like KAYAK and Expedia can be useful tools. They allow users to find flights within their price range and itinerary, offering flexible dates and Hacker Fares, which can save money by combining one-way tickets from different airlines.
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History of accidents
Princess Juliana International Airport is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten. The airport is known for its dramatic landings, where planes must drop just a few feet above Maho Beach before touching down.
The airport has had a few notable incidents and accidents over the years. 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. Unfortunately, all 11 passengers on board, along with both pilots, perished in the accident.
On 29 October 2014, a Skyway Enterprises Flight 7101, a Shorts SD-360, crashed into the ocean southwest of the airport, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. The investigation concluded that the pilot suffered from a nighttime somatogravic illusion after the flaps were retracted, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.
Another incident occurred in March 2017 when a WestJet Boeing 737 made a botched landing attempt, coming dangerously close to the water. The pilots quickly realised their mistake and powered up for another approach. While this incident did not result in any casualties, it highlighted the potential dangers of landing at Princess Juliana Airport.
The airport has also experienced damage due to natural disasters. In September 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 hurricane, causing significant damage to the airport. Footage from a Dutch military helicopter showed the extent of the damage, including a blown-off roof, damaged jetways, and flooding on the runway.
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Economic impact
Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, is the main airport of the island and serves as a hub for Winair. In 2015, the airport handled 1,829,543 passengers and around 60,000 aircraft movements. The airport is considered one of the best in aviation and has won multiple awards, including Best Caribbean Airport in 2016.
The airport is a crucial contributor to the economy of St. Maarten. In 2014, the airport and its users accounted for 60% of St. Maarten's GDP, 32.8% of the balance of payments/net, 7.5% of government revenues, and 52% of total employment. The airport itself generated revenues of USD 59,751,353 and a net income of USD 4,881,362 in 2014. It employed 268 people.
The airport is the primary gateway to the island and the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. It 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 known for its very low-altitude flyover landing approaches due to the proximity of its runway to the shore and Maho Beach.
The entire island of Saint Martin has over 300 restaurants and is considered an economic centre for the NE Caribbean. Tourism is the predominant driver of the economy, with the main exports being salt and locally grown commodities like sugar. Princess Juliana International Airport, as the largest airport in Saint Martin, plays a significant role in facilitating tourism to the island. The airport's convenient location and efficient operations contribute to making Saint Martin a major destination for large cruise ships in the Caribbean.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Juliana International Airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon.
The airport code for Princess Juliana International Airport is SXM.
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the region, handling around 1.8 million passengers annually. It is the second busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean.
The official operating hours of Princess Juliana International Airport are 07:00–21:00.
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