Airport Management Ltd. (N.V. Luchthavenbeheer) was founded in 1996 as a parastatal company, of which the Government of Suriname, still holds 99% of the shares. One share is owned by the N.O.B. (Nationale Ontwikkelings Bank/ National Development Bank). The company was initially set up to operate all the airports and airstrips in Suriname. Since it was established, it has only operated the J. A. Pengel International Airport (JAPIA) as well as conducting passenger screening activities for international charter flights at the Zorg & Hoop Domestic Airport.
IATA: PBM, ICAO: SMJP
This airport is the main international airport of Suriname and was named after the 4th Prime Minister of Suriname. It is also referred to as the Zanderij Airport as to the town it is located in, ±45 km south of Paramaribo. In 1928 Pan American World Airways started mail flights from Miami to Paramaribo, but it was during World War II, that the infrastructure was expanded by the US Armed Forces. On 7 April 1972, the first ever Boeing 747 wide body jetliner to land in South America, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, landed at Zanderij Airport, Suriname.
The main traffic at the airport is and has always been the commercial passengers. There is a small cargo market, with some potential into the region. The transfer passengers have been doubling since 2015. Due to the ideal geographical location, this airport can play a major role in connecting passengers between Europe/North and South America and/or even between North America & Africa.
The airport is in the process of obtaining the ICAO Aerodrome Certification. With respect to that the airport complies with all ICAO and TSA standards for Safety & Security. The airport has obtained the Last Point of Departure (LPD) status in 2016, which enabled direct flights from the JAP Airport to the USA.
Since 2016, the Airport has been considering the expansion of more business by attracting more Airlines. The airport is represented in various Air Service Development Conferences where new potential airlines are being attracted to fly to and from JAPIA.
“To manage, exploit and sustainably develop safe and customer-oriented airports in Suriname”
“The Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport’s vision is to reach 1 million Passengers by 2033 and to sustainably grow into a stronger Regional Connecting Point.”
