AIRPORT:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher “broke ground” on Friday for the construction of the new Fixed Based Operator (FBO) facility at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA). The project (a private jet terminal) should take about 18 months to complete and will give St. Maarten a world-class facility to effectively handle and enhance the private air travel business that is vital to the airport and by extension St. Maarten.
Calling the moment a “momentous occasion for St. Maarten and for SXM Airport”, the Minister said “though we are currently not under the ideal circumstances and our beautiful airport still has some ways to go to regain its splendor, the groundbreaking of a new FBO facility to a positive and hopeful sign for the future of our international airport.”
She congratulated the management and board of the airport (past and present) for getting to this starting point for this very important project. She also congratulated the FBO operators “who will be able to move customers through a world-class FBO facility and meet many of their needs.”
“The FBO facility, 25 years in the making, will represent another major step which forms an important part of SXM Airport’s Capital Improvement Program for which the airport obtained financing on the international market,” the Minister said.
“This new FBO facility is a tribute to our past and future success. We executed hundreds of private aircraft movements last year and look forward to growing these numbers in the coming years. In fact, I’ve been told that despite the devastation our entire country has had to ensure, including our airport, private aircraft numbers for the upcoming season remain solid,” she said.
The Minister added: “We want to be the leader in business aviation and we are not short of competition for that title. To get there, our airport will remain dedicated to world-class service and the highest levels of safety and security. With an outstanding Fixed Base Operations facilities, we will provide our customers with an experience that will enhance their air travel experience, with a touch of St. Maarten flare.”
She said the facility will be a great enhancement to St. Maarten’s world-class airport facilities and “we are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate this groundbreaking with colleagues and friends.”
“We look forward to welcoming customers from around the world, and providing them with premium business aviation services. Once again congratulations to all and our people are looking forward to seeing their airport and their new FBO Facility up and running very soon. I am sure you will make us all very proud,” the Minister concluded.
Press Release from the Ministry of TEATT
SXM Airport Breaks Ground for New FBO Building.
SIMPSON BAY:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher did the honors on Friday with regards to the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new Fixed Based Operator (FBO) facility at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). Congratulating the management and board of the airport both past and present for all their effort to get this very important project off the ground, the minister said, although the island is not at the moment “under the ideal circumstances and our beautiful airport still has some ways to go to regain its splendor, the ground-breaking of a new FBO facility is a positive and hopeful sign for the future of our international airport.” Also speaking at the ceremony was Mr. Michel Hyman, COO and Acting CEO of SXM Airport who said “The new FBO facility for which we are breaking ground today forms a very important part of our Capital Improvement Program.” He recognized the hard work of “all those who went before me in preparing the ground work that has made this day possible.”
According to Hyman, “It is now going on to 30 years since the first call was made for an FBO facility at this airport. In fact, the growth of the General Aviation sector in pre-Irma St. Maarten has been such that we were ranked second only to The Bahamas in this region where it concerns accommodating luxury jets.
“Around this time of the year, we had all grown accustomed to seeing many of these private jets parked at our airport. As a matter of fact, in 2013 and 2014 we had to turn away about 70 and 60 requests respectively for such private jets to use our airport. Those aircrafts had to go to other airports, and once they find a new welcoming home, it usually becomes even more difficult to attract them to return to SXM. Modernizing our FBO facility, therefore, will certainly offer a good incentive for them to come back,” he said.
Hyman continued: “I must similarly say that the new facility is guaranteed the continued services of the two major FBO operators at SXM Airport, namely Arrindell by Signature and TLC with whom we have already signed non-exclusive agreements. The two operators will offer passenger, ground handling and into-plane fuel services for General Aviation from the new, state-of-the-art FBO Terminal when this is completed.”
He concluded by saying: “Today, we are taking what might seem like a small step for us at SXM Airport, but which, I am sure, will turn out to be a giant step for all of St. Maarten and our hub partners, as we seek to regain and even surpass our market share in the General Aviation sector.”
Also attending the ceremony were representatives of the Supervisory Board of Directors of PJIAE N.V., the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, Arrindell Aviation by Signature, TLC Execujet, Studio Acht and of Taliesen Construction.
Photo caption: L-to-R Guillermo Lares – Signature Flight Support Area Director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Michel Hyman – COO/Acting CEO PJIAE N.V., Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher – Minister TEATT, Michel Hodge – Member Supervisory Board of Directors PJIAE N.V., Steve Kong – Managing Director TLC Execujet.
PJIAE Press Release
