St Maarten’s Airport Just Named a New Chief Operating Officer

Princess Juliana International Airport has appointed longtime operations leader Emile Levons as Chief Operating Officer, elevating a 23-year PJIAE veteran at a pivotal moment for one of the Caribbean’s busiest hubs.

Levons, born and raised in St. Maarten, has held roles across the airport’s operations for more than two decades, most recently serving as Operations Director. In that position he oversaw Operations, Security, and Rescue & Firefighting and helped steer several core initiatives — from the airport driving program and the Vision Box border management rollout to maintaining continuity during the pandemic and driving recovery work in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

PJIAE leadership framed the move as a vote of confidence in a results-first operator with deep institutional knowledge. “We are proud to welcome Emile into his new role as COO,” said CEO Michael Cleaver. “His deep knowledge of airport operations, proven leadership, and dedication to the success of PJIAE make him an invaluable member of our executive team. We are confident he will continue to serve the airport and community with distinction.”

Levons called the promotion a “new challenge” and underscored a focus on execution. “Throughout my career, my focus has always been on ensuring operational excellence and looking out for the best interests of the company,” he said. “I am honored to step into this new role and to continue contributing to the growth and success of Princess Juliana International Airport.”

The appointment comes as PJIAE continues to tighten operations and invest in passenger processing and airside resilience — work that has been under way for years and has accelerated with the airport’s modernization efforts.