Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) is the airport of St. Maarten. It's placed 15 kilometers north-west of Philipsburg and is controlled by Princess Juliana International Operating Company NV (PJIAE), a limited liability company, which is entirely owned by PJIA Holding N.V. which successively is completely owned by the Island Government of the Island Territory of St. Maarten. Under a concession granted to PJIAE by Government for a period of twenty years - effective January 3, 1997- PJIAE manages, controls, keeps up and grows the Princess Juliana International Airport.
The island of St. Maarten / St. Martin is the smallest landmass on earth divided by two nations. The northern side (St. Martin) is ruled by the French and the southern side (St. Maarten) is among the five island territories that comprise the quasi- autonomous country of the Netherlands Antilles, part of the The Netherlands. While English is the principal language on both sides, Dutch is the official language on the southern side and French the official language on the northern side.
View Larger MapFor of its geographic location, the island acts a strategic role in the development of neighbouring islands Saba, St. Eustatius, Anguilla and St. Barth´s.
The airport is the hub that provides St. Martin and surrounding islands as well.
PJIAE began as a small military base that was built in 1942, and was changed into a civilian airport in 1943, the first in this part of the Caribbean. It has took on an important role in the socio-economic changeover of St. Maarten, from an agriculturally based economy into one of the outstanding tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
Today PJIA is the 2nd busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean, in terms of aircraft movements, behind San Juan, Puerto Rico. PJIA is the single most significant strategic asset of St. Maarten.