The preparations for Network Latin America, scheduled for December 6 to 8 at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort are progressing well. Host PJIAE is in full swing with arrangements which should guarantee that the prestigious conference has a flawless run. "We were able to stage a professional and memorable platform for the Airports Conference of the Americas last year, and we will present Network Latin America 2009 as a conference one cannot afford to pass up," said PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday.

Network Latin America is organized annually by Airline Business magazine, the leading strategic title for airline executives, with a global reach of 25,000 senior readers. Held previously in Aruba, it is a conference where delegates will listen to and debate route planning strategy with key industry players. The meeting provides aviation executives with a platform for scheduled one-to-one meetings and also features an exhibition.

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With the end of the worldwide economic recession in sight, PJIAE, the Operating Company of St. Maarten's international gateway Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), is focusing on increasing its traveler friendliness.

Several projects -some ongoing currently and some in start-up phase- are to enhance the experience of visitors as they arrive and depart the island.

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Edward Heerenveen, General Manager International Affairs of commuter airline Insel Air has every reason to be satisfied. His dream of establishing a strong Caribbean airline that would ensure that his native Curacao would not be isolated has become an attractive reality; Insel Air clocked a NAf 2 million profit in 2008 and is expanding rapidly, adding routes, linking with important strategic partners to extend its reach and purchasing its fourth MD82 aircraft soon. "We dreamed of setting this up; but now the time for dreaming is over. It's time to implement what we planned," Mr. Heerenveen said dryly.

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With the completion of one major infrastructural project in sight, PJIAE is soon to turn its attention to another project aimed at easing the flow of passengers; albeit that the project nearing completion is roadside, while the other in start-blocks is airside. The project on the roadside called on motorists driving through the airport area to take note of another detour, as the upgrade of the road network is reaching completion. As of Wednesday October 7, 2009, and until further notice, the new roundabout has been open for traffic coming from both the Maho and Simpson Bay directions.

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Commissioner of Aviation Mr. Frans Richardson and President of the Princess Juliana International Airport operating company (PJIAE) drs. Eugene Holiday welcomed the first seasonal non-stop WestJet flight to St. Maarten on Sunday November 1 2009, praising the airline as the island's newest partner for the Canadian market, St. Maarten's second largest source market.

WestJet flight 2652 touched down at the PJIA just before 4:00pm, with 116 passengers on board. The airline will fly between Toronto and St. Maarten three times per week, non-stop, until April 29, 2010. Flight time on both legs is about 4.5 hours.

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St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport is setting yet another aviation standard in the North Eastern Caribbean when it introduces automated check-in kiosks in the check-in hall of its terminal building. Already welcomed as cost and time savings mechanisms by several of the airport's airline partners, the kiosks will be installed and operational as a representation of PJIAE's newest focus on improving passenger experience.

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Air Caraibes is elevating its services to St. Maarten from regional to international as of this coming December. The Guadeloupe-based French airline will operate a direct flight from Orly Airport in Paris to St. Maarten twice weekly as of December 12, 2009. "We decided not to leave all our eggs in one basket," said Zoe Wegnerowicz, Air Caraibes' Representative in the North Eastern Caribbean. "We are diversifying our product offering to St. Maarten."

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Equipment Upgrades are an ongoing process at PJIAE's Air Traffic Control Department. As with all electronic equipment and systems, the equipment in use are in need of periodical upgrades and since it is required by International standards to provide quality service to the users, PJIA ATS is no different and ensures that it abides by the international Quality Assurance Program laid down in the regulations.

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A pillar in St. Maarten's aviation industry, Frank Arrindell has seen it all in his 47 years at Princess Juliana International Airport. Three consecutive bankruptcies of airlines he was involved in prompted him to start Arrindell Aviation Services 20 years ago 1836404 anniversary this coming November 11th, looking back at what he calls "a road paved with challenges," he admits he has had fun. "I had fun. We enjoyed what we did," he said during a recent interview.

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