Airport Rebuild Updated Conditions

DAILY HERALD

So, nearly two years since the airport was destroyed and they are finally getting around to setting conditions and hiring the proper people for rebuilding. Hmmm, makes you wonder what the government priorities have been for bringing in tourist money to the island??? So sad

I was thinking the same thing... and basically it took an outside party (bond holders) to drive them to this.. Very sad indeed.

speaking of airport,what ever happened to the 50 million insurance money

They were working on the roof and trim yesterday. I couldn't see any actual interior work in progress.

They've been on that roof for 6 months.

Well they are not getting very far are they? Lol

Actually they are. It's a giant roof.

True, just joking. I'm going see if I can spy some interior work today on my way out.

When I saw it in January It was evident that while the wing-like rounded edge design was unique and beautiful it was also custom and expensive.

A wiser move years ago would have been to make the building out of standard size window and trims for the roof and edges to allow for immediate ordering and reconstruction.

To get this on a fovorite tangent, id rather walk down jetstairs to the tarmac feeling the tropical SXM sunshine at arrival. Wouldnt like a downpour. But thats what you get with my way.

Don't think you can get near enough to see inside.

That's great, except for those who don't have good mobility, especially going back up into the plane. Also takes a lot longer to load and unload the plane.

When we embarked the plane in Portland this week it was raining and instead of stairs it was a covered winding ramp that was very easy to roll bags and walk along. Didn't look to expensive and was very Mobil. Would be nice if PJIA had something like those until the regular jetways are functional.

Apparently Jet Blue has a ramp in SXM, but I have not seen mention of any other airline using one there.

Hope the rest follow suit.

That would be nice, considering it looks to be what, at least another year before they will be using the jetways?

We came through the airport today and I really didn’t think it was bad at all and particularly for a Saturday arrival. When they were still using the tent back in November we sailed through immigration but luggage retrieval was total chaos. Today the immigration line was long as there were a couple of planes at about the same time but it moved well and baggage claim was a piece of cake. I really couldn’t complain if I wanted to.

Welcome back and thanks for the positive comments about your arrival. Do enjoy your stay.

PS: Great new Steak House at Maho called Jax Steak House . Wonderful and you and John can do the Porterhouse for two persons for $ 70.00. Enjoy.

Glad you had a good flight down. We are all ready for your daily reports, keep us all posted. Not really, enjoy your vacation and don 't think about us! LOL

Glad you arrived OK. Enjoy!!!

When we landed in back in October. That was how we disembarked the plane. On that zigzag ramp. It worked fine for all, including those of handycapped way.

Pat-Glad you arrived safely. Enjoy your stay.....

Thank you all. It’s always such a good feeling being here.

And Lesley Bruce - what can I say? He is such a treasure! For the first time we opted NOT to get our car at the airport and take a cab directly to Royal Islander. Lesley was there to meet his other arrivals and greeted us anyway and then helped us get a cab and deliver all our luggage into the cab. Thank you so much for that and for meeting us later at our request with the car.

As I’ve said so often with regard to car rentals, price is always an important consideration, but the real deal for us is SERVICE and Lesley goes the extra mile to deliver it and with a smile and a hug, too. Lesley, you are the best!

Good to hear that they have one there.

David--was that Jet Blue?? That's the only airline I have heard that is using a ramp.

Just wondering. Does each airline own their own ramps at an airport or is it available by request for use?

Scubaman--as I have said, Jet Blue is the only one that I have heard of using the ramps. Pat--were you on Jet Blue or AA? Did you have a ramp?

Perhaps they use it when they know they have mobility issue passengers on board?

Elaine--have you personally seen them use a ramp for anything OTHER than Jet Blue flights??

I've only been on Jet Blue since Irma as it was the only way I could get to my destination without 20++ hours of travel. Have had ramp every time, except the first. I'll let you know in June if we get one on AA.

Ok, thanks. We certainly did NOT have a ramp on AA in June of 2018.

In March 2019 JetBlue landed us in SXM with no jetway but we did exit the airplane both front and back. A bus was waiting to take us to the terminal and to go through immigration. Airport terminal is a disappointment and I hope it will be back to the way it was soon.

Wouldn't it be nice if instead of all this administrivia they just deliver bottom-line news of what will be done when -- news tourists want. Including preclearance...

We didn't have a ramp last May either. Flying in on AA this coming May. Will find out then.

In mid November we use the zigzag ramp on jet blue is was good

Again, it appears that only Jet Blue uses a ramp..

Guess I'll find out in May

West Jet uses a ramp as well for some arrivals and departures.

You talking stairs or flat ramp?

A curved ramp from the ground up to the door of the plane. No stairs involved.

The zig-zag ramp takes up a lot of space, and my impression is that it doesn't move much more than from it's parking location to the closest jet parking spot, the one all the way on the left end of the terminal building, looking at it from airside. I don't know if it is a PJIA asset, a JetBlue asset, or someone else's, but JetBlue sure does use it a lot.