St Martin Air Travel :: St Martin Airport Information

While St. Martin has two airports, there is only one, on St. Maarten, that is capable of handling large planes and international air traffic. With the relatively small size of the island, visitors flying into the Dutch side of the country will have little trouble making their way to the French side to vacation or take an inter-island flight from the much smaller airport situated there.

There is a departure tax when leaving the airport of $30(USD) for international destinations and $10(USD) for destinations within the Netherlands Antilles. Fees may be included on airlines such as Air France, Continental, Delta, KLM, and American, so be sure to check with your airline regarding the fee.

St. Martin/St. Maarten Airports     

The Princess Juliana International Airport:  Phone: 599-545-5757 - Most international visitors will fly into The Princess Juliana International Airport, the second busiest airport in the eastern Caribbean, and the hub for travel to Sint Maarten, St. Martin, and a host of small islands surrounding the two states. The airport is located approximately 10 miles northwest of Philipsburg. Taxis, rental cars, dining, and shopping are all available at the airport. Tourists to St. Maarten may receive entry to the country from 14 days to 3 months and visitors to St. Martin may stay in the country up to 3 months without a visa. In 2004, the airport had traffic of nearly 400,000 international and local transit passengers.

L'Esperance Airport:  Phone: 590-87-53-03- The small L'Esperance Airport in St. Martin generally serves small charter and inter-island planes.

Federal Aviation Administration Website: http://www.faa.gov

Airline passengers often prefer to travel on board air carriers they know and trust, but this may not always be an option for getting to your destination of choice. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) provides air carrier reputation rankings that are based on performance, service, and safety. The FAA's Web site is at http://www.faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20591

The FAA consumer hotline can be contacted at 866-835-5322, and those looking for the Aviation Consumer Protection Division or looking to report air travel service problems should contact 202-366-2220.

The FAA has deemed both the government of the Netherlands Antilles (St. Maarten) and the government of France (St. Martin) as being in compliance with the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program that is based on a country's standards for aircraft operations.

General St. Martin Air Travel & Airport Information     

There are a variety of airlines serving Princess Juliana International Airport, and travelers should research air carriers and flight timetables that work best for them. Nonstop flights, which do no stop are preferred by many over direct flights, which may have stops between your departure and arrival. Sample flight times to St. Maarten and St. Martin are 2 and a half hours from Miami; 3 and a half hours from New York; 5 hours from Montreal; and 8 hours from Paris. Passengers from the United States and Canada can find both direct and nonstop flights to Princess Juliana International Airport, while travelers from Europe and abroad may sometimes have to make connections in U.S. cities or in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  Major Airline Phone Numbers     

Charter & Inter-Island Service     

  Taking Care of Your Luggage When Flying     

• Most airlines allow two pieces of luggage per person. If you are traveling on a charter it is a good idea to check with the company. Some charters only allow one piece of luggage per person.
• Be sure to tag all luggage (including your carry-on) with your name, address and phone number. If you know where you will be staying, add that information as well.
• Be sure all your travel documents, tickets, money, credit cards and traveler's checks, medications, valuables and personal items are in your carry-on or purse.
• It is recommended that you bring a change of clothes in your carry-on. If your luggage is "delayed" you'll have something else to wear!
• If you are bringing anything that can be ruined if it gets wet - pack it in a plastic bag. Occasionally tropical rain storms soak the luggage on its way from the plane to baggage claim.

St. Martin Travel Tips and Information Categories:     

• St. Martin Weather & Climate
• St. Martin Air Travel
• St. Martin Car Rental
• St. Martin Travel Documents - Visas
• St. Martin Hoidays & Festivals
• More St. Martin Travel Tips