Archive for April, 2006
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.