Archive for the ‘press releases’ Category
Juliana Airport (June 7, 2006) – Work on the second phase of the airport master plan which includes an expanded new terminal building (NTB), a fixed based operators terminal (FBO), extended aprons, enlarged car parking, and related support facilities is progressing well and nearing completion, drs. Eugene Holiday, president of PJIAE said. Persons visiting the site can already see the real form and get a true picture of most of the major elements that will comprise the finished work due to open for operations in Mid September 2006.
Except for the frontage roads construction activities on the landside mainly involves finishing works. The main security walls separating the landside from the airside have been erected and the designed frontage walls to NTB are practically completed. Further, the holding areas for taxi operators on the west and for tour busses and car rental shuttles to the east are being built, which will allow for organized transport services to/from the airport. On airside works have progressed to the extent that the new fuel hydrant system for the fueling of the aircraft has been installed under the extended aircraft parking. This will ensure efficient and expeditious fueling of aircraft at PJIAE, which is essential to the effectiveness of airport operations. Moreover, at the end of May 2006 the old and the new aircraft parking aprons were joined resulting in the physical connection of the old to new the facilities. The joining of the aprons symbolizes the start of the transition from the old to the new facilities, drs. Holiday stated.
Construction on exterior of the NTB is substantially complete except for some finishing works. Work on the interior is currently the main focus of the construction activities, including, the completion of tiling, installation of mechanical and electrical systems (elevators, escalators, air conditioning), fitting of ceilings and finishing of walls. Critical systems such as the baggage conveyor belts with advance security features have been installed and tested in the specially designed basement. This system places PJIAE at the forefront of aviation security in the region, drs. Holiday said. In addition, check-in counters have been installed while the assembling of airlines sales counters is almost complete. The four passenger jet bridges have arrived on site and installation has started Moreover, some special effects in the arrival corridor depicting the PJIAE local sense of place theme “sun, sand and sea” to highlight the characteristic of the island for arriving tourists is already visible. The local theme is also starting to take shape in the departure lounge with the design of the roof of the retail and food and beverage outlets.
Reaching this stage has not been without difficulty or challenge. Namely, issues such as the temporarily unavailability of material on island (gravel, sand and cement), shortage of manpower and required work adjustments (screed floor problems and practical changes) demanded significant attention and time. Overall these challenges have been addressed and managed to limit their effect on the progress on the work which is to be delivered for the start of operations in Mid September instead of early August as was originally planned, drs. Holiday said.
Meanwhile we have initiated an array of activities to prepare for a smooth transfer of the operations of airlines, concessionaires, car rental companies and others to the new facilities. Rental contracts with most of the users have been signed and specific plans for the fitting out of their respective locations are being worked out for implementation. Already some tenants have started with the physical fitting out of their outlets. This means that in the next few weeks the variety of outlets, with their own specific designs and features will start to take shape. Drs. Eugene Holiday stated that, this process is expected to be a complex and challenging one as we move towards the operational opening date which will be established in close consultation with the users. This because it is essential to ensure that all systems, most of which will be new, are fully tested between now and the day of the operational opening and that all players are fully ready. Moreover, it should be noted that operations in the new facilities will be significantly different than those which we are currently accustomed to. As a result all players at Juliana will need to undergo a major shift in thinking and approach to ensure the success of the new and upgraded facility.
In conclusion, construction of the new airport terminal building and related facilities is well underway, bringing with it real and new business opportunities and challenges in a state-of-the-art gateway which will anchor St. Maarten’s role as a leader in the North Eastern Caribbean in the provision of airport services. The 27,000m2 building and related facilities which are being constructed, within the allotted budgets and in line with quality standards, will double the airport’s capacity. It will stand out as a symbol of progress with a unique blend of modern architecture and Caribbean style aimed at taking St. Maarten and its people ‘En Route to New Horizons”, drs. Holiday stated.
June 7, 2006, Simpson bay
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.
The Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company has extended an open invitation to the general public to visit the construction site of its future terminal building.
A tour of the future facilities of St. Maarten’s gateway to the world will be possible on May 7th 2006, between 2.00pm and 5.30pm.
PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday explained that the tours are part of the airport company’s efforts to keep stakeholders informed of developments. “Within an organization it is essential to have clear objectives and to communicate them so that everyone can share in the same vision and operate from the same set of principles. PJIAE believes that a well-informed community is better able to make decisions regarding its future. And at the same time we are proud of the development at our airport and want the entirety of St. Maarten to share in our excitement as we remain En Route to New Horizons,” drs. Holiday said.
Visitors who tour the construction site will get a first-hand update on the rapid development of the new facility which is set to open in the fall of this year. Representing the largest investment in the sustainability of St. Maarten’s tourism industry, the new terminal building is a state-of-the-art facility that leaps aviation in the region fast forward.
The four-level, 27,000 square-meter facility will nearly double PJIA’s passenger capacity, enabling the airport to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year. It will be fully air-conditioned, have a spacious check-in area with 46 check-in positions, six passenger security screening points, and 10 immigration and passport control points making for speedier visitor processing, as well as 100% hold baggage screening system with explosives detection capability. The facility will boast of a spacious, comfortable departure lounge, and will have available all facilities users may need, such as: banking/ATM, postal, Internet, taxi and customer information booths.
Once completed the new terminal building will anchor and enhance St. Maarten’s position as a preferred tourist destination and PJIA’s position as the premier gateway in the North Eastern Caribbean. RBTT Merchant Bank is the principal financier of the project.
Directions on where to congregate to be able to take part in the tours will be announced through the media.
AIRPORT (February 10, 2006) — Governor Frits Goedgedrag of the Netherlands Antilles and the Lt. Governors of the five island territories toured the Phase II construction site of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Friday February 10, 2006. “In general they all seemed impressed with St. Maartens’ new airport terminal building and interested in further developments,” said drs. Eugene B. Holiday, President of the PJIA Operating Company said afterward.
The Governor and the Lt. Governors are in St. Maarten for their three-day meeting that started on Wednesday. It is the first time the dignitaries received a tour of the facility as a group. They were given a full tour of the new facility and received an update on the progress of the construction. “The gentlemen were very interested, as we could tell from their questions,” said drs. Holiday.
The PJIAE President reported furthermore that the Phase II of the Airport Expansion Masterplan is moving ahead at a favorable pace. “We’re well on target and we expect the handing over of our new facility to be in July 2006. Therefore, the preparations for the migration from our current building to the new facility is also well underway,” he said.
About PJIAE’s Expansion Master Plan Phase II
Phase II of the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) NV Expansion Plan was kicked off on June 18, 2004 and should be completed by late 2006. This US$ 87 million project features the construction of a new airport terminal, the rerouting of a new road around this facility and additional aircraft and vehicle parking capacity. It also includes the addition of the airport’s integrated Air Traffic Control and Radar Facility.
The 28,000 square-meter addition will nearly double the size and passenger capacity of the current facility: it will be able to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year – 1 million more than it can now. 54,000 square meters of land was reclaimed from the Simpson Bay lagoon for its construction. Koop Holding Europe, headquartered in Groningen, the Netherlands is the main contractor for the project; Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) has been engaged to conduct supervision.
By executing Phase II, PJIAE is ensuring continued compliance with the increasing international safety and security standards, to meet future traffic demand and to improve the level of service at the airport. Once completed the Phase II developments will also anchor and enhance St. Maarten’s position as a preferred tourist destination and PJIA’s position as the premier gateway in the North Eastern Caribbean. RBTT Merchant Bank is the principal financier of the project.