Ruth Haines
St. Maarten, also known as St. Martin, is a small island in the Caribbean with two airports: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and Grand Case-Espérance Airport. Princess Juliana International Airport is the primary airport of St. Maarten, located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 kilometres northwest of the capital city, Philipsburg. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, serving as a crucial hub for surrounding islands. The airport accommodates a range of aircraft, from small Cessnas to large Boeing 747s, and receives flights from major cities worldwide, including Paris, Amsterdam, and several locations in the United States. Grand Case-Espérance Airport, situated on the French side of the island, is smaller in scale but still offers international flights to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Airport Code | SXM |
| Location | Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 km northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten |
| Bus Service | Buses depart frequently from the parking location opposite the taxi stand towards Philipsburg and Maho/Cupecoy |
| Hotels Nearby | Azure Hotel, Mary's Boon, Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm Beach Resort, The Horny Toad, Sapphire Beach Resort, Atrium Beach Hotel & Spa, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, LaVista en Hilton Grand Vacations Flamingo Beach Resort |
| Runway | Single runway numbered 10/28, measuring 7,546 by 148 feet (2,300 m x 45 m) |
| Traffic Control | PJIA air traffic controllers manage 4,000 square NM of airspace, with two radar systems at their disposal with ranges of 50 nautical miles (93 km) and 250 nautical miles (460 km) |
| Operating Hours | 07:00–21:00 |
| Airlines | KLM, Winair |
| Destinations | Amsterdam, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Paris, Amsterdam, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Anguilla, French Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, Saba |
| Annual Passengers | 1.8 million |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Juliana International Airport is the main airport in St Martin
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is the main airport in St Martin. It is located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten. The airport is one of the oldest and busiest in the region, handling around 1.8 million passengers annually, mostly from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean. It is a crucial hub in the Caribbean, serving as a gateway to surrounding islands such as Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barths, Anguilla, Dominica, Nevis, and Tortola.
The airport has a single runway numbered 10/28, which was renumbered from 09/27 in 2008. The runway measures 7,546 by 148 feet (2,300 m x 45 m). The airport's operating hours are from 07:00 to 21:00. It is equipped with VOR/DME and NDB, and the air traffic controllers manage a 4,000 square NM airspace known as the Juliana TCA.
Princess Juliana International Airport has a fascinating history. It began as a US military airstrip during World War II in 1942, and the first commercial flight landed in 1943. The airport was named after Queen Juliana, who visited the island using the airport in 1944. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgrades and renovations, including a major remodelling in 1964 and facility upgrades in 1985 and 2001. Due to increasing passenger traffic, the airport is currently undergoing modernisation as per a three-phased master plan commissioned in 1997.
The airport is famous for its "beach landing" as the runway is just a few kilometres away from Maho Beach. This unique proximity to the beach offers a thrilling experience for both tourists and plane-spotters. However, it also presents challenges, as seen in 2017 when Hurricane Irma caused significant damage to the airport, including the roof of the terminal and jetways.
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The airport is located in Simpson Bay
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region. It is famous for its "beach landing", as the runway is just a couple of kilometres away from Maho Beach. The airport suffered significant damage when Hurricane Irma struck the island as a Category 5 hurricane in 2017. The storm blew the roof off the terminal, damaged the jetways, and caused flooding and sand on the runway.
There is a second airport on the island, Grand Case-Espérance Airport, on the French side of the island. This airport is smaller and more modest, but still hosts regular international flights to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
St. Maarten is a compact island, so most resorts, hotels and villas are within easy reach of Princess Juliana International Airport. Hotels within a mile of the airport include Azure Hotel, Mary's Boon, and Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm Beach Resort.
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It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region. Located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, it serves as the primary aviation gateway to St. Maarten, with the airport code SXM even becoming a popular nickname for the island itself. The airport is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten.
The history of Princess Juliana International Airport dates back to World War II when it was a US military airstrip. In 1943, it welcomed its first commercial flight, and the future Queen Juliana visited the island through the airport in 1944, after whom the airport was eventually named. The airport underwent remodelling and relocation in 1964, with new facilities added in 1985 and 2001.
Over the years, the airport has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic, with modernisation plans implemented to accommodate this increase. It handles a wide range of aircraft, from Cessnas to Boeing 747s, and caters to 1.8 million passengers annually, mainly from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean. The airport is easily accessible from most metropolitan centres in the United States, with jet services making travel to the Caribbean convenient with short flight durations.
Princess Juliana International Airport is well-connected to various destinations worldwide. It serves as a crucial hub in the Caribbean, offering daily or weekly services to different locations. The airport has a single runway, numbered 10/28, and pilots guided by GNSS can take a more efficient approach than those operating under VFR. The airport's control tower is equipped with two radar systems, providing air traffic controllers with a range of 50 and 250 nautical miles.
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The airport code is SXM
Princess Juliana International Airport, located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, is the airport in St. Martin with the airport code SXM. It is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, serving as a crucial hub in the Caribbean. The airport is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten.
The airport code SXM is a popular abbreviation and local nickname for the airport and the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. It is derived from the Dutch-side international airport code, reflecting the island's Dutch and French heritage.
Princess Juliana International Airport is a significant gateway to the island, offering easy access to surrounding resorts, hotels, and marinas. The airport handles a range of aircraft, from Cessnas to Boeing 747s, and caters to 1.8 million passengers annually, mainly from the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
The airport has a single runway numbered 10/28, which was renumbered from 09/27 in 2008. It is known for its unique "beach landing," as the runway is just a few kilometres from the famous Maho Beach. The airport has undergone modernisation and upgrades over the years to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.
In summary, the airport code SXM refers to Princess Juliana International Airport, the primary airport serving the island of St. Martin. It is a busy and well-recognised airport, offering convenient access to this Caribbean destination.
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Grand Case-Espérance Airport is another airport on the French side of the island
St. Martin is served by two airports. Princess Juliana International Airport is the primary aviation gateway to the island. However, there is another airport on the French side of the island, called Grand Case-Espérance Airport.
Grand Case-Espérance Airport is located in the town of Grand Case. It is a public-use airport that is mainly used for flights by regional passenger aircraft flying to Guadeloupe and Saint Barth, as well as private aircraft. It is significantly smaller than Princess Juliana International Airport, which is located on the Dutch side of the island.
The airport in Grand Case began as a US military airstrip in 1942 during World War II. The first commercial flight landed in 1943, and the airport was later named after a visit from the then-future Queen Juliana in 1944. In 1964, the airport was remodelled and relocated, with new facilities built in 1985 and 2001. In 2017, renovations were completed, including a modernised terminal building, an upgraded fire station, an extended parking apron, and a new control tower. A new hangar for line maintenance was also constructed the following year.
Grand Case-Espérance Airport provides the quickest transfers for commercial inter-island aircraft and private aircraft. There are regular international flights from this airport to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
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Frequently asked questions
St Martin has two airports. Princess Juliana International Airport is located in the Simpson Bay area of the island, 15 kilometres northwest of Philipsburg, the capital of St Maarten. The second airport, Grand Case-Espérance Airport, is located on the French side of the island, in the town of Grand Case.
The airport code for Princess Juliana International Airport is SXM.
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the oldest and busiest airports in the region, handling 1.8 million passengers annually. It is the second busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean.
Airlines that fly to Princess Juliana International Airport include KLM, which operates direct flights to and from Amsterdam, and Winair, which operates flights between Aruba and Sint Maarten.
Hotels near Princess Juliana International Airport include Sapphire Beach Resort, Azure Hotel, Mary's Boon, and Hilton Grand Vacations Royal Palm Beach Resort.
