Princess Juliana International Airport, also referred to as Sint Maarten International Airport, serves the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin as well as the neighboring islands of Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius. Operating as a civilian airport since 1943, Queen regnant Juliana of the Netherlands is the airport’s namesake.
Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the busiest in the Eastern Caribbean. It welcomes over one million passengers a year, and handles jumbo jets as well as smaller commuter airplanes and private jets. The airport lies on Simpson Bay just 20 minutes west of Philipsburg, the major town on the Dutch side of the island.
Nearby are a number of coastal resorts located along Pelican Key, Belair, Great Bay and Maho beaches. Famous Maho Beach stands just adjacent to the airport and is a popular place to view incoming planes. The runway is mere minutes from the Caribbean Sea, and the experience of landing and taking-off at this airport is a memorable travel experience in itself. Princess Juliana International Airport short runway length at 7545 feet can take a first-time visitor completely by surprise during the aircraft’s final approach. To compensate for this short distance, pilots prefer to touchdown as close to the beginning of the runway as possible. Thrill-seekers on Maho Beach often try to experience the effects of jet blasts emanating from plane engines. To discourage this dangerous activity, the airport added an additional fence to serve as an extra security measure.
The new fully-air conditioned terminal with two floors offers 42 check-in desks, 10 immigration and 5 emigration booths, and 11 boarding gates. Flight destinations include Miami and New York City in the United States, Amsterdam and Paris in Europe, and islands in the Western Caribbean. The airport is a hub for Winair and manages flights for American Airlines, JetBlue and Air France among others.
Inside thePrincess Juliana International Airport terminal, the Soualiga Business Class Lounge offers wifi and comfortable seating. A small VIP lounge is available for a fee and 24-hour reservation. Wifi is also available throughout the terminal. For hungry passengers, food is available on both floors.
The Food Court on the ground floor of Princess Juliana International Airport serves up pizza, submarine sandwiches and teriyaki while the less casual restaurant on the top floor offers Caribbean dishes. A shopping mall also makes waiting at the airport fun rather than a bore. Ground transportation includes airport shuttles, shared ride vans, and limousines for more stylish and luxurious travel.
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