NEW YORK, New York – Travel Agent recently sat down with members of the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company and got the skinny on some major plans for the airport.
The Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten has just closed on a $132 million bond, which will enable the airport to embark on an aggressive and major improvement and expansion program. This rated bond issue was facilitated by Moody’s Investor Service.
“The fact that we were able to get this $132 million bond and raise new money is a testament of our ability to sustain the economic viability of the country,” Clarence Derby, chairman of the supervisory board of directors for the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company, told Travel Agent.
Some of the key improvements planned include a runway rehabilitation, which will commence in February. Other plans include a new “fuel farm” at the airport. A fuel farm is basically a storage facility for airplane fuel. Currently, the airport has the capacity to store roughly 10 days of fuel, says Derby. After the fuel farm is built, it will be able to store 15 days of fuel. There will also be construction of new taxiways to increase runway efficiency, an expansion of the aprons to provide additional aircraft parking and acquisition of land for future expansion.
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| From left to right, Author Joe Pike meets with Whitfield Vlaun, Regina LaBega and Clarence Derby, members of the Princess Juliana International Airport Company |
In order to reduce the cost of the current outstanding bond issue and to finance the capital expenditures for the planned facility development, a refinancing package on the 2004 bond issue of $118 million was negotiated.
"We are all very excited about both the high bond rating from Moody’s and the funds that will result from the $132 million bonds we just closed on," said Regina LaBega, managing director of Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company. "The issuing of these bonds will enable us to take our already successful airport to new heights in which we can welcome more international flights as well as the growing number of private jet owners that want to come to our Caribbean island.”
She also told us that St. Maarten is currently working on changing its custom procedures by having travelers pre-clear in St. Maarten. This will be especially beneficial for clients who plan on going to any of St. Maarten’s neighboring islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Dominica and St. Barth’s. In fact, Dominica has even reached out to St. Maarten reps about the possibility of making St. Maarten the main hub for Dominica. LaBega told us the new customs policy could be in place by next year. St. Maarten currently ranks second in all the Caribbean for on-time arrivals. First on that list is the Bahamas, while Puerto Rico ranks third, according to Derby.
New Website to be Launched
Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten is about to unveil a comprehensive re-branding as one of the major aviation facilities in the Caribbean and, as part of the re-branding process, a new airport website has been created.
The new website architecture was guided by the same principals of the airport itself and, along with the rebranding project, was executed by Tambourine, a global destination and hospitality branding and marketing firm.
The website focuses on delivering vital up-to-the-minute arrival and departure information with a real-time data feed.
The site has been designed to serve passengers and guests both arriving and departing St. Maarten as well as those in the planning stage of their trip to the destination. The website communicates all of the facilities and core services and also features the vast array of retail food and shopping outlets.
The new website fully integrates social media with the airport’s Facebook page and Twitter feeds that are featured in the "On the Radar" section of the home page.
The website’s "Spectacular Landing" section highlights user generated YouTube videos of the airport’s world famous beachside landings. A soft launch of the site took place during the airport Capital Improvement Project’s signing ceremony on January 10 and the final launch will take place at the official rebranding event in February. The new site will be live a www.SXMAirport.com.
Visit www.en.vacationstmaarten.com.