SXM Airport PJIA Princess Juliana International Airport Dutch St Maarten
TRAVEL ADVISORY UPDATE
SXM Airport
NOTICE: For Travellers Stranded Abroad and in Sint Maarten NOTICE: Travel Ban in Place
NOTICE: New Entry Rules NOTICE: New Protocol for French Territories NOTICE: Travel Restriction Update
At the request of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, we wish to inform you about the travel and health information site of Sint Maarten, whereby travelers may access information on the entry requirements for St. Maarten. Passengers can also be redirected to the secured Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) app.
TESTING LOCATION IN ST. MAARTEN
SXM Airport Pandemic Plan in full effect to foster awareness on the Norvel Coronavirus in our low risk area.
Dr. Sonia Swanston – Meade addresses the airport community at the “Awareness and Protection” information session at the Departure Hall.
Head of Collective Prevention Services, Eva Lista – De Weever and Dr. Sonia Swanston – Meade amongst key speakers
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten St. Maarten (Friday, March 06, 2020) – SXM Airport is proactively working with all the relevant government agencies on St. Maarten to strategically execute the required responses and awareness actions, as it relates to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The initiative comes following the announcement from the World Health Organization (WHO) that declared the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, was first reported in China on December 2019.
Meanwhile, the Airport has since initiated its’ infectious disease awareness campaign, through a Contingency Plan to determine the significant safeguards for the situation and have already accelerated the efforts thus far.
Gerald Baptiste of the SXM Airport Rescue and Firefighting Department (R&FF) and Eva Lista – De Weever, Department Head of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) were amongst the primary speakers at the information session on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), which was appropriately entitled, “Awareness and Protection” at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). The open walk-in session was held with the airport community at the Departure Hall on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
The stakeholders included airlines and handlers, concessionaires, Immigration, Customs, ground handling workers, cargo operators, VIP’s, car rental operators and more.
Dr. Sonia Swanston – Meade, the assigned company doctor of the Airport also served as a speaker and further disclosed the symptoms of the infectious disease and the healthy practices to follow while at the workplace or traveling via the airport.
SXM Airport
CPS presented the case definition and listed the necessary prevention measures for yourself and those around you. Another point of dialogue included the topic “How to effectively communicate your symptoms to a physician?”
“We were well received by the airport’s staff and stakeholders that took the time out to attend the airport’s information session. All the related questions posed were valid and in line with the worldwide concerns of the outbreak. It was a wonderful experience to collaborate with other local health practitioners and emergency departments and CPS is open to more joint efforts, to better inform the population about the disease.
I hope the takeaway message is that the Ministry of Public Health is doing what we can to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors,” summarized the Department Head of the Collective Preventive Services, Eva Lista – De Weever.
SXM Airport
COVID-19 HOTLINE:
9777
*May be dialed from UTS and Tecell mobiles as well as from landlines. Hotline is only accessible locally.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS (July 18, 2021)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic Sint Maarten has established a mandatory health pre-authorization application through an Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) for every visitor arriving by air including transits, Sint Maarten and Saint Martin residents.
Without the health pre-authorization boarding will not be possible. Be advised that processing time can take up to 12 hours. Visitors arriving on a maritime vessel please read the latest requirements here.
The requirements vary depending on the country risk status which can be found at the bottom of this page.
People are considered fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine :
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine
the approved vaccines are: Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca) and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen
The government of Sint Maarten has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 insurance for all travelers with destination Sint Maarten with the exception of Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers departing the same day (checkbox), flight crews (checkbox), transiting cruise ship crews (checkbox), French nationals residing in France or a French territory, BES-ZVK insured (checkbox) and AUC faculty and students (special procedure).
The insurance purchasing process is an integrated step in the EHAS application. Travelers requiring the COVID-19 insurance must complete this process upon application.
For more information on and all questions related to the COVID-19 insurance please visit www.sxmprotectionplan.com or contact customer support at [email protected]
The application must be completed in order to be processed.
This includes proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, information on the vaccination status (including proof of completed vaccination in case fully vaccinated) and the purchase of the mandatory COVID-19 insurance in case required. Children must have the online health form filled out by their parents. Provide a working personal email address on which you are reachable.
As of January 27, 2021, until further notice, a travel ban is in place for persons who have been the 14 days before departing to Sint Maarten in a banned country as mentioned in the “banned countries” table below. Sint Maarten/Saint Martin/Saba/St. Eustatius residents are exempted from the travel ban and should get a rt-PCR test before departure (see below). The EHAS application must be completed.
All incoming passengers are subjected to temperature checks and other screening protocols and may be subjected to mandatory testing at their own expense.
Failure to comply with the screening at the Health Check Point upon arrival will result in you not being cleared to enter St. Maarten and sent back to your originating country. If re-tested upon arrival you will be required to self-isolate or self-quarantine at your place of lodging/residence until the test results are known.
Applicants arriving at SXM Airport will receive confirmation of their accepted application. Non-completed applications will be automatically deleted within a day after the provided travel date.
If health authorization is pre-approved, you will receive a (printable) pre-authorization PDF via e-mail, which must be presented at check in and to the health and immigration authorities upon arrival.
\This PDF will also contain a QR code which will show the vaccination status and COVID test result when scanned. Keep the original rt-PCR or antigen test result and proof of vaccination always with you. Please check your spam/junk mail folder as well in case you haven’t received a response.
If health authorization is not pre-approved, you will receive an e-mail informing you that health pre-authorization has been denied.
As Saba has their own EHAS operational, same day transit travelers to Saba no longer need to apply in the Sint Maarten EHAS system, but only the Saba EHAS system which can be found at http://www.sabatourism.com/travel-requirements. Proof of the Saba EHAS approval must be demonstrated when transiting through Princess Juliana Airport Sint Maarten.
COVID-19 TEST REQUIREMENTS
SXM Airport
RESIDENTS FROM SINT MAARTEN, SINT MARTIN, SABA AND ST. EUSTATIUS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED FOR TWO WEEKS OR MORE, CAN ENTER SINT MAARTEN WITHOUT TESTING WHEN ORIGINATING FROM A HIGH-RISK COUNTRY. HOWEVER, WHEN ORIGINATING FROM A BANNED COUNTRY A rt-PCR TEST WITHIN 72 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE MUST BE PERFORMED IN ADDITION TO BEING FULLY VACCINATED FOR 2 WEEKS OR MORE SXM Airport
A rt-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed in the country of origin and within 72 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights) is required for all travelers originating from a country that is categorized as high risk.
Antibody tests and tests performed outside of the 72 hours period will not be accepted. Results from home covid-19 collection test kits will also not be accepted. Airlines might require you to show a negative lab test result.
Alternatively, travelers originating from the USA and Canada can also do an antigen test for the SARS-COV-2 virus obtained from a naso-pharyngeal swab performed within 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten. All FDA approved antigen tests using a nasopharyngeal sample including those with Emergency Use Authorization only (EUA) are accepted. Tests performed outside of the 48 hours period and home tests will not be accepted.
Sxm Airport Travelers residing in and/or traveling from a low-risk country are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test.
Travelers who reside in a low-risk country but have visited a high-risk country in the 14 days prior to departing to Sint Maarten, must also have a rt-PCR test for the SARS-COV-2 virus performed in the country of origin within 72 respectively 48 hours prior to departure to Sint Maarten (last leg in case of connecting flights).
The original test result to be uploaded as part of EHAS application procedure must clearly specify the name of the laboratory or clinic, full name of test subject, type of test administered, name of antigen test, swab date, source of the swab, result date and a negative result. Non-compliant test results, hand written or e-mail statements from doctors will not be accepted.
Children of age 10 and under are exempted from the mandatory rt-PCR or antigen test. As of the day after the 10th birthday, a rt-PCR or antigen test has to be submitted.
Airline and private flight crews with stopovers in St. Maarten or St. Martin must demonstrate a valid negative rt-PCR or antigen test upon arrival. Crew members not in possession of a valid negative rt-PCR or antigen test must self-quarantine until their departure flight.
CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ARRIVING BY AIR AND DEPARTING FROM SINT MAARTEN
All passengers must complete the application procedure through EHAS before departing to Sint Maarten.
Within 48 hours, before disembarking again in Sint Maarten at the end of the cruise, all passengers older than 10 years must have an antigen test performed by the cruise line.
Applying through EHAS is not necessary when returning to Sint Maarten at the end of the cruise.
The purchase of COVID-19 insurance (see below) is mandatory when staying more than one (1) day in Sint Maarten either before or after the cruise. The insurance is only valid during the days of stay in Sint Maarten between the arrival date and return date to the country of origin.
SELF MONITORING
For travelers originating from a high-risk country, 5 consecutive days of self-monitoring of body temperature and possible flu like symptoms is mandatory. The travelers in this category will receive an automated daily email alert providing a link for submitting the required information online the first 5 days of their stay.
If you are remaining for a shorter term on the island, you will have to submit the information for the time you are on the island. Temperature measuring possibilities will also be offered in the lobby in most hotels and other lodging facilities.
OUTBOUND TRAVELERS
SXM Airport information on testing locations please visit https://stmaartenupdates.com/testing-on-island/ Thank you for choosing St. Maarten as your preferred vacation destination.
New COVID-19 Test Center Opens at SXM Airport
walk-ins made available at the temporary facilities
SXM Airport COVID Test Center
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten (March 22, 2021) – Since the world began to take precautionary measures against the global pandemic as a consequent to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the team of the award-winning SXM Airport became the initiators in preventable and mitigation processes throughout its core operations on Sint Maarten.
Today, the COVID-19 Task Force of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) has launched its first COVID-19 Test Center in a collaborative effort with the local Healthcare Lab. Departing passengers now have the option to be administered an antigen test with only a fifteen (15) minute wait time for test results, before they check-in for a flight.
The new temporary testing facility opened on Saturday March 20, 2021 and is stationed within a tent structure with the assigned medical professionals at-hand. The COVID-19 Test Center was erected on the Airport’s external compound and is adjacent to the employee parking area (East of the Terminal Building).
SXM Airport
In February 2021, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention Department of Health and Human Services (CDC) and French Governments made a firm stance through its travel requirements, declaring that COVID-19 tests outcomes are now required prior to entry into the associated countries from any foreign country. Each passenger is now required to take a PCR Test and/or an Antigen test to board a flight.
The order was implemented to achieve paramount objectives which embraces the preventing of further introduction, transmission and spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and new virus variants.
According to the Management Board of PJIAE N. V. in providing the added testing options they are creating an ease to be able to access the required tests and results for added convenience for the travelers. Equally, they are being optimistic that this the new resting option may positively contribute to an improved passenger growth impact.
The price of the Antigen test is USD 110, and the headquarters is operational from 11:00am through 4:00pm. Interested parties can be tested through walk-ins at the facilities.
For detailed information about the new COVID-19 Test Center please contact the Passenger Experience Department (PED) of the Princess Juliana International Airport at 1-721-546-7777. Moreover, online users may visit the website at www.sxmairport.com and click the COVID-19 tab for all associated updates and flight information.
PJIAE launches second cost-reduction program to guarantee business continuity
SXM Airport
SXM Airport
Bay, St. Maarten (April 16, 2021) –Vision-Box announced that it has extended its contract with the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), in St. Maarten. The partnership aims to support the economic recovery of the island, after the impacts of hurricane Irma, Jose, Maria and COVID-19, with the airport being the gateway to the twin nation island and the hub partners of the neighboring islands.
The expanded partnership will see the rollout of the latest and most innovative biometric service platform across the airport, enabling a seamless experience for all travelers, and a modern border control ecosystem at entry and exit of the island.
The contract extension builds on the existing partnership formed in 2015, when PJIAE and the Immigration Border Protection service first sought to enhance passenger experience and security, with the launch of Vision-Box’s biometric Automated Border Control solutions, including an Advance Passenger Information System.
The seamless technology offered by Vision-Box is fueled by its award-winning Orchestra Digital Identity Management Platform – a state-of-the-art touchless and contactless passenger processing at the airport to provide safety and security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing need to enhance the digitization of border control procedures.
By implementing Orchestra, the Sint Maarten stakeholders will have greater control over the flow of people on-premises, while leveraging a data rich environment to improve its entry/exit systems including the capacity to consume passenger data insights before arrival.
With most of SXM Airport PJIAE’s traffic coming from Europe and the United States, maximizing its infrastructure with automation and biometric technologies will be crucial in sustaining the economic recovery in order to maintain its position in a very competitive Caribbean market.
Vision-Box’s contactless technology will offer a sophisticated traveler experience, comprising an identification, clearance, and safety monitoring environment. The new infrastructure offers a suite of digital tools that reduces or eliminates passenger contact with touchscreen surfaces, and physical interaction with airport and airline staff, thus providing a safe travel experience.
SXM Airport
SXM Airport Speaking about the partnership Jeff Lennon, Vice President Strategic Sales and Global Partnerships at Vision-Box, said: “We are delighted to continue working with PJIAE N.V, and the Government of St. Maarten, building on our trusted partnership over the years. St. Maarten has been going through unprecedented tough times for the last 3 years following hurricane Irma and the pandemic.
We fully embrace the vision of the airport to become one of the role models of an agile digital travel platform in the region, enabling them to attract more happy tourists to foster GDP and sustainability in the mid-term. The Orchestra Digital Identity Management Platform will be a springboard for passenger satisfaction, making Sint Maarten a top choice and seamless destination to travel to.”
Michel Hyman, Chief Operating Officer of Sint Maarten Airport, said: “The airport industry is going through a major business transformation. To remain aligned with the industry’s future development, technology will play a vital facet of a seamless travel journey at airports to ensure a smooth operation and positive passenger experience. The technology will simplify the operations at the border and security checkpoints.
The automatic controls will offer security suitability while improving the process of biometric identity checks against various watchlists. Our extended partnership with Vision-Box is the ideal platform to support our market recovery and future sustainability, taking advantage of the successful collaboration we built our trust upon”
The deal with Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) caps the latest high-profile project by Vision-Box over the last twelve (1)2 months, which included the launch of automated pre-security gates at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, the implementation of an integrated Biometric experience for Emirates Airline at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport, and a regional strategic partnership with AirAsia Group, to implement industry-leading, identity management technology across its network of 152 airports.
SXM Airport
SXM Airport and Port St. Maarten Group of Companies synergizes on strategies to ensure St. Maarten stays ahead of the game.
(L to R) Vincent Dexter Doncher, Managing Director of the PJIAH, Fernando Williams, Advisor to the PJIAH, Alexander Gumbs, Representative of the Port St. Maarten Group of Companies, Michel Hyman, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the PJIAE N.V., Roger Lawrence, Representative of the Port St. Maarten Group of Companies and Elton Jones, PJIAE N.V. Advisor, assembles to discuss continual partnership in homeporting and more during a lunch meeting.
SXM Airport Infrastructure enhancements and homeporting amongst deliberations.
Great Bay, St. Maarten (April 16, 2021) – Since 2020, the global pandemic due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) has accelerated the importance of safe travel for air service and cruising throughout the world. In an ever-evolving travel market, the key leaders of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and Port St. Maarten Group of Companies are synergizing on strategies to ricochet the destination and tourism enterprises forward.
SXM Airport In a series of successful assemblies, the tourism-based counterparts initially convened at Port St. Maarten on April 9, 2021, whereby varied topics were headlined by future updates on the infrastructure of both entities. The local cruise port and airport are under transformation with the joint aim to achieve growth.
Amongst the deliberations was the culmination of the joint efforts towards the homeporting undertaking, which directly and indirectly affects the local cruise porting and aviation industries.
SXM Airport The Port St. Maarten Management disclosed that the deliberations are historic and they are setting a path to analyze how strategically the dual entities can further collaborate, especially during these uncertain times.
Both teams are collectively looking at fusing their existing business operations while examining new opportunities that have been overlooked in the past. Elements like private jets, yachting, and homeporting are uniquely intertwined amongst both government-owned entities and should be further explored.
Port St. Maarten Management further asserted that this is the first time a considerable number of passengers will fly to St. Maarten for homeporting purposes, and at the end of the season, both entities will present research and information about its services to use as a case study to better interpret strategic elements that can increase potential in moving ahead.
SXM Airport
Michel Hyman, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), said: “As the Port Authority has announced that its cruise facilities will now be a homeport, there is a more challenging responsibility towards the starting and ending point for a cruise vessel. SXM Airport will be required to provide more comprehensive services as the first entry point will be through the Airport.
The Management of PJIAE N.V comprehends this business advantage and will do our utmost to ensure that there is a seamless experience for travelers throughout the logistics of our operations. I’m pleased to be a part of a leading group that is committed to focusing on marketing the destination collectively.
With the travel industry far-reaching towards this “new normal” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also faced with the global changes through the travel safety protocols and we must stay ahead of the game.”
SXM Airport
SXM Airport
Speaking about the partnership Vincent Dexter Doncher, Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Company (PJIAH) summarized: “Cruise ports and airports must work cohesively to achieve valued success towards this advantage in homeporting. The airport is vital for assuring schedule reliability and allowing a continuous passenger (dis)embarkation and transfer to onward journeys.”
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and Port St. Maarten Group of Companies are set to reconvene shortly as they continue to prepare to implement all the necessary factors in the latest tourism industry-leading project.
SXM Airport PJIAE N.V. and PJIAH committed to the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project
SXM Airport
The SXM Airport Management Board of Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (SXM), comprising of Michel Hyman – Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Leo van der Meiden – Chief Financial Officer (CFO), in conjunction with Dexter Doncher, Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Airport Holding (PJIAH), the shareholder of PJIAE N.V., are fully committed to the completion of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project and its business recovery and continuity of the Airport’s operations.
The reconstruction of the terminal, as previously reported, is made possible, through the financing arrangements in place by the Government of St. Maarten, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and PJIAE’s bond holders.
SXM Airport
Recognizing the importance of the reconstruction of the Airport’s terminal, the key parties involved have stressed the importance of the agreements in place and more specifically, of the adherence to its principles and conditions.
SXM Airport
PJIAE N.V. and PJIAH are fortunate to be supported in their combined efforts of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project by Royal Schiphol Group (RSG), for which a cooperation agreement was entered into between the RSG,, MinBzK, PJIAE N.V. and PJIAH. Parties are currently in discussion to extend this cooperation agreement, as it is to expire at the end of July 2021.
With the demolition and mold remediation works now completed, the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project is progressing steadily, as is the bid evaluation as received on March 23, 2021 for the General Contractor’s package”.
SXM Airport
Further reconstruction works related to the renovation project is expected to continue in the third quarter of this year. The reconstruction of the Airport’s Terminal remains a high priority and we are fully committed to rebuilding a stronger and better Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) for the benefit of all.
Photo caption 1: Honorable Council of Ministers during the Project Road Tour by the SXM National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB).
Photo Caption 2: The Honorable Prime Minister, Silveria Jacobs (center) addresses the Managing Director of the PJIAH, Dexter Doncher, PJIAE N.V. COO, Michel Hyman and the PJIAE N.V., CFO, Leo Van der Meiden during the Project Road Tour of the SXM National Recovery Program Bureau at their stop at the SXM Airport.
Safety and Security Workshop starts at SXM Airport
The Quality Assurance team at the Safety and Security workshop, as they Manager of the Quality Assurance, Connally Connor addresses the attendees.
SXM Airport
Bay, St. Maarten (June 2, 2021) – The Quality Assurance Department of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) executed a Safety and Security workshop at the aviation-based organization. The syllabus on safety and safety management includes four (4) modules which comprise Safety Management System, Airside Safety, Security Procedures, and Fire Safety.
The mandatory gathering is held every two (2) years for all employees and associated stakeholders at the SXM Airport.
According to the Manager of the Quality Assurance and Chairman of the COVID-19 Taskforce, Connally Connor, this Safety and Security workshop comes at the period of the untimely coronavirus, but PJIAE N.V. is continually arming our resilient team with the knowledge of prevention and lifesaving safety patterns. Participants are forbidden to undertake any tasks on the airside without having undertaken the orientation program and the workshop.
The Management Board of the SXM Airport PJIAE N.V. at the Safety and Security workshop.
“Training and developing employee’s skills and work habits is the strategic focus of our Safety Management System (SMS). This is possible because every person in the organization, from the Chief Executive Officer down, believes that increased knowledge and skill makes staff and stakeholders more productive, attentive, and safe in their workplace and thus less susceptible to accidents.
Staff when they are educated about safety, they aware of identifying hazards and how to analyse the associated risk at the airport and they better comprehend how they can carry out a task safely.
SXM Airport PJIAE N.V. is committed to the challenge to educate all the Airport’s internal and external employees about safety by emphasizing what safety means to the employee, their jobs, and how it benefits the passengers, customers, and organization,” the Quality Manager summarized.
SXM Airport
SXM Airport Info Updated Daily
Contents