Grand Case Airport: "The main part remains to be done"
On Tuesday evening, the Saint-Martin airport operating company (Sesma) inaugurated the new terminal which was completely renovated. "This work was the final phase of a vast program," said Mongi Juba, the Director. "We completed the expansion of the civil aviation parking lot, built a new fire station and a new control tower," he said. In all, "We have invested 5.6 million € since our arrival in 2011 including 2.3 million to be financed by the European funds," added Youssef Sabeh, President of the SNC Lavalin Airport of the Sesma is a subsidiary. "For the terminal, we optimized the space without pushing the walls. The feedback has been good so far and shows that this is a success," he continued. Satisfied and proud of his teams, Youssef Sabeh was also satisfied and proud on Tuesday evening in Grand Case. However, this did not keep him from being pragmatic. This time, about the Collectivité.
For the President of the SNC Lavalin Airport, "The main part [however] remains to be done", in other words extending the length of the runway from 1300 to 1500 meters in order to accommodate larger aircraft and therefore increase traffic. "It will also allow existing companies to take off with more passengers because they currently cannot take off at full capacity", pointed out Youssef Sabeh while insisting on the fact that without an increase in traffic, "the Sesma will not be able to amortize its investment". "These are the three hundred meters that are keeping us from success", he explained.
This project has been planned for years, but it’s yet to be realized. "The land for the expansion was supposed to be delivered to us at the end of 2012", recalled Youssef Sabeh while stating that he did not wish to "celebrate the fifth anniversary" of this delay next year.
The President of the Collectivité was reassuring. "The negotiations with the owner are on track", she stated once again; the first vice-president Guillaume Arnell in charge of the dossier had indeed already said this in January. Aline Hanson further explained that in order to conclude these negotiations, a study was needed in order to accurately define the perimeter of land which is necessary for the extension. "This study is essential since it will indicate the number of hectares that must be bought as well as the cost. We will then know how much should be budgeted," explained the President.
This study has supposedly just been launched. It must be conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority, which has been solicited for years according to the President.
At the inauguration ceremony for the new terminal, the Director of the Sesma Juba Mongi announced his departure. He is leaving Saint-Martin to join other SNC Lavalin teams in Montreal. Daniel Lefebvre, who was in charge of the Mayotte airport also on behalf of SNC Lavalin Airport, will replace him starting on Friday.
