Grand Case Airport: the end of one project, but hope for a new one
The renovation of the Grand Case Espérance terminal ended a few days ago after ten months of construction work. Expansion and renovation of the boarding room, the inspection and filtering area, as well as the check-in area… the terminal, now bigger, is unrecognizable.
According to Mongi Juba, the Airport Director, the bulk of the work consisted in the complete overhaul of the electrical network, water distribution and sewage disposal. "Everything is now compliant!" he said before adding that they have also facilitated access for persons with reduced mobility. "It’s not just a simple renovation. Now, it’s a whole new building." A considerable challenge, especially since the airport remained open throughout the duration of the work.
A PUBLIC SERVICE MISSION
When the SESMA (Saint-Martin Airport Operating Company) a local subsidiary of the Canadian group SNC-Lavalin signed the concession on April 1, 2011, it became the managing body of the airport for a 25-year period and undertook to implement a development plan in two phases, as part of a public service delegation. The renovation of the terminal marks the end of the first phase. It followed the establishment of a fueling station (2012), the doubling of the surface of the general aviation parking lot (2014), and the construction of the building which houses both the fire station and the control tower (January 2016).
"The work didn't affect traffic," said Mongi Juba. Neither in a good or in a bad way. Despite the 4.6 million euro investment, traffic has remained constant. However, the first half of 2016 shows a slight increase (+6 or 7%). "We must wait for July-August which is the high season for us," he added. Up until now, the airport has had a little less than 200,000 passengers per year (arrivals and departures). The Director hopes to break through this ceiling.
However, as he points out: "We are not the ones who increase traffic". Indeed, passenger traffic and aircraft movements depend rather on the airlines. The Grand Case airport has three: St Barth. Commuter, Air Antilles and Air Caraïbes, which serve the main axis of the West Indies arc, toward the south. The idea is to welcome a fourth airline working with small 9 - 20 seater planes in order to develop traffic to the north and the other Caribbean islands.
LENGTHENING THE RUNWAY: A NECESSITY
The development of the airport is intrinsically linked to the lengthening of the runway: the second phase of the investment project. It currently measures 1200 meters. This is enough for landing with an ATR42 or 72, but too short for taking off at maximum weight. Air Caraïbes and Air Antilles have to keep more or less 10% of their seats empty when departing from Grand Case. That makes it difficult to accommodate other airlines in these conditions, and impossible to work with long-haul aircraft.
The Group is waiting for the Collectivité to buy land in order to lengthen the runway and thus develop commercial and business aviation. "We simply cannot settle for the traffic that we currently have. We clearly need to lengthen the runway. Otherwise, we will remain limited in the development of the platform" said Mongi Juba. The Director believes that lengthening the runway would create (between the reception, service and maintenance) at least twenty jobs. Furthermore, this would bring more visitors which would then contribute to the economic development of the territory. In the meantime, the SESMA is striving to strengthen its freight activity and would like to create a maintenance hangar.
Photos : SESMA
