PHILIPSBURG – Princess Juliana International Airport is seeking to expand its air connections with South America as part of a strategy to strengthen the island’s position as a regional travel hub. Airport representatives are presenting the plan at Routes Americas 2026 in Rio de Janeiro.
According to the airport, the strategy focuses on developing new routes, particularly to destinations in South America, where interest in travel to St. Maarten has been rising. Since 2017, the number of visitors from South American countries has increased by approximately 118 percent, with especially strong growth from Colombia and Brazil.
During the aviation conference, airport officials are also promoting St. Maarten as a gateway for multi-island travel in the northeastern Caribbean. Through Princess Juliana International Airport, travelers can easily connect to nearby destinations such as Saint Barthélemy, Anguilla, Saba and Sint Eustatius.
To showcase the destination, the airport presented an interactive booth at the conference featuring a virtual reality experience that allows visitors to explore both the island and its airport facilities. The stand also displayed artwork by well-known St. Maarten artist Roland Richardson.
Airport representatives say the initiative aims to attract new airline partners and further position St. Maarten as an important aviation hub for the Caribbean region.