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AIRPORT--The possibility of an Open Skies agreement and the establishment of United States preclearance at SXM Princess Juliana International Airport were among the issues discussed by the St. Maarten delegation at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference, held in Denver, Colorado, February 1-3.
An SXM Airport press release said the St. Maarten delegation had been led by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor and comprised SXM Airport Managing Director Regina LaBega, Operations Manager Michel Hyman and Marketing and Customer Service Acting Manager Suzy Kartokromo.
According to US State Department former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Byerly, a keynote speaker at the conference, Open Skies generated more than US $4 billion in revenues for the United States last year, SXM Airport said.
Byerly highlighted Chile as being at the forefront of air service liberalisation, which he stressed reaps significant economic benefits as a result.
Open Skies fosters competition and without doubt enhances the quality of service, he added. He also pointed out that there are challenges such as insufficient airport and Air Traffic Control infrastructures and inadequate capacity.
"Open Skies is definitely a goal St. Maarten should pursue if we want to attract more airlines to the destination and further solidify our position as a regional hub," LaBega said. "Of course, we're also very much interested in establishing a US preclearance at SXM Airport. The matter is under serious consideration and we're doing all that is necessary to ensure that we achieve this."
LaBega said Minister Connor was very much on board where these issues were concerned, but she could not give a time frame when all of these could become a reality.
"We're certainly working on it very seriously," LaBega said.
