Archive for June, 2006
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.