The Most Famous Airports in the Caribbean

DALLAS — Located 160 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, the Dutch and French Caribbean Archipelago is one of the top tourist destinations for aviation geeks worldwide. But why is this so?

The Caribbean is home to some of the world's most famous airports due to being AV geek vacation gateways. These airports, such as Saba (SAB) with its incredibly short runway, Gustavia (SBH) with its challenging approach, and Saint Martin (SXM), which is a paradise for aviation enthusiasts, offer a unique combination of warm, clear beaches and thrilling low-flying aircraft action.

In this post, we will delve into the evolution of these airports and explore when, where, and how they have become what they are today.

The Beginnings of Princess Juliana International Airport

Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), originally built as a small airstrip for the US military during World War II, has a fascinating history. It served as a strategic base for the US military during the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign of the war. However, its military role was short-lived, and in December 1943, the airport welcomed its first commercial flight.

During an official visit in 1944, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands landed at the airport, which was then named after her. This name has been retained to this day.

As the United States experienced a significant economic boom after the war, the Caribbean region, including Sint Maarten, became a popular tourist destination for Americans seeking a warm vacation spot during the winter season. This marked the beginning of Sint Maarten's reliance on leisure travel as its primary source of income. Tourism alone contributes over US$700 million to the island's economy and employs around 33,000 people, accounting for 80% of its population.

From 1964 to 2001, Sint Maarten embarked on a major development and modernization project for its main airport. This involved relocating and expanding the terminal to accommodate 2.5 million passengers annually. The project also included the construction of a longer runway, the establishment of a brand-new Runway End Safety Area (RESA), and the improvement of taxiways.

These enhancements were instrumental in obtaining approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to operate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400.

This milestone allowed Sint Maarten to receive intercontinental flights from its two home countries, France and the Netherlands, for the first time in history. It was a significant achievement that further solidified the island's position as a key international travel hub in the region.

Princess Juliana Intl', Today

Today, SXM is focused almost exclusively on receiving leisure travelers from North and Central America, the Caribbean, and a few European countries.

Flight operations at SXM on a typical Saturday, the airport's busiest day, are characterized by a high volume of arrivals and departures. Throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset, the airport handles over 60 flights from Winair (WM), American Airlines (AA), Spirit Airlines (NK), Delta Air Lines (DL), United Airlines (UA), Air France (AF), and KLM (KL).

Winair, a regional airline at SXM, connects the Dutch and French Caribbean archipelagos. Since its establishment in 1961, this airline has created a well-connected route network facilitating travel between the islands. This development has significantly reduced travel times, providing an alternative to the exclusive use of ferries during that era.

Winair counts with a gentle fleet of only seven De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, perfect for the geographical context surrounding Winair's operations. The performance of this small but powerful aircraft enabled the success of Saba's Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, which has the shortest commercial airport runway in the world with no more than 400 m (1,300 ft) in length.

The airport receives two daily flights from Sint Maarten, reducing the travel time to just over ten minutes on board the Twin Otter.

A Detour to St. Barts: the Most Dangerous Approach

St. Barth Commuter (PV), another regional Caribbean carrier operating in SXM, provides an impressive service with 17 daily flights to the neighboring island of Gustavia. Gustavia is home to St. Jean Gustaf III Airport (SBH), renowned as one of the most remarkable airports in the world.

Situated in the relatively flat area of Gustavia on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy, St. Jean Gustaf III Airport offers a unique and captivating setting. A beautiful, crystal-clear beach flanks the 2,000-foot runway on its eastern side, while the western end is positioned directly in front of a 50-meter hill.

As a result of the airport's challenging topography, aircraft approaching SBH are required to execute an exceptionally steep descent. They fly a mere two meters above a roundabout where cars constantly cross, creating breathtaking visuals of the remarkable capabilities of aircraft like the Twin Otter or the Cessna Grand Caravan.

Saint Martin's Runway 10

Let's now discuss the highlight of this story: Runway 10, which has played a significant role in the growing popularity of SXM in recent decades, is located on a narrow strip of land in the southwestern part of Saint Martin.

Following its expansion in the 1960s, Runway 10 now encompasses a significant portion of the airport's perimeter, with its western threshold extending to the small and tranquil Maho Beach.

Maho Beach has become renowned as a captivating location for witnessing some of the most thrilling aircraft landings in the world. Tourists from all corners of the globe are drawn to the beach, where aircraft fly just a few meters above, providing a unique spectacle.

During midday, crowds gather near the end of the runway to experience the exhilarating sensation of being close to the landing gear of a Boeing 757 or feeling the powerful jet blast of a departing Airbus A330. Meanwhile, beachgoers can relax and enjoy their time sipping on refreshing mojitos.

The strategic placement of the runway has undeniably influenced the island's tourist appeal, leading to the development of numerous chillout bars and hotels that have centered their offerings around the "Maho Beach Experience."

One of the island's historic bars, the Sunset Beach Bar, even places a surf table at its entrance displaying the arrival schedules and corresponding aircraft to entice tourists to visit the beach and witness these awe-inspiring moments firsthand.

The Visit from the Queen of the Skies

Saint Martin expanded its airport facilities to accommodate intercontinental flights from Europe, building on its historic connections with France and the Netherlands.

In the past, twin-engine aircraft, such as the Boeing 767 or the more recent Airbus A350, did not have permission to fly long distances over the Atlantic Ocean. This restriction led airlines like Air France (AF), KLM (KL), and Corsair (SS) to use four-engine aircraft like the Boeing 747 to serve the Caribbean region and avoid these limitations.

However, the demand for travelers flying to the Antilles alone was insufficient to sustain economically viable operations of jumbo jets in the Caribbean. Airlines strategically combined multiple flights from Amsterdam or Paris to destinations like Curaçao, Pointe-a-Pitre, and Saint Martin into a single routing to address this.

This approach involved the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747, departing from any of the European capitals and then performing a series of short flights between 20 and 30 minutes between the islands to pick up additional passengers just before its departure time back to Europe.

While other carriers may not have considered flying such short distances with a double-decker plane, this practice became common and profitable in the Caribbean until recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtQpGcJTXrA&ab_channel=PlaneHound

Regrettably, with the implementation of ETOPS and the emergence of more dependable and fuel-efficient aircraft, the Boeing 747 has gradually been phased out from serving the Caribbean region. Air France (AF) was the first to discontinue its Boeing 747 flights, followed by Corsair (SS), and finally, in 2016, KLM (KL) also retired its operations with this iconic aircraft.

The departure of the last regular Boeing 747 flight from Saint Martin marked the conclusion of a remarkable era at SXM. The occasion was commemorated with a special ceremony, including a water salute, and attracted hundreds of people to Maho Beach to bid a final farewell to the Queen of the Skies.

Featured image: Delta Air Lines beach landing. Photo: Adrian Nowakowski/Airways