The first scheduled commercial airline service to the remote British island of St Helena in the south Atlantic has touched down safely.
The virgin flight, an SA Airlink service from South Africa, ends the island's long-standing reliance on a ship which sailed every three weeks.
It is hoped that the service, funded by the UK, will boost tourism and help make St Helena more self-sufficient.
But British media have dubbed it "the most useless airport in the world".
The island, part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, was where Napoleon died in exile in 1821.
First commercial flight lands on remote St Helena
14 October 2017
BBC News
The first scheduled commercial airline service to the remote British island of St Helena in the south Atlantic has touched down safely.
The virgin flight, an SA Airlink service from South Africa, ends the island's long-standing reliance on a ship which sailed every three weeks.
It is hoped that the service, funded by the UK, will boost tourism and help make St Helena more self-sufficient.
But British media have dubbed it "the most useless airport in the world".
The opening of the airport was delayed by problems with wind
Built with £285m ($380m) of funding from the UK Department for International Development (Dfid), the airport should have opened in 2016, but dangerous wind conditions delayed the launch.
After further trials this summer, the weekly service between Johannesburg and St Helena was passed as safe.
As seen from inside the cabin, the first ever commercial flight lands at St Helena Airport
St Helena had for decades been one of the world's most inaccessible locations, served only by a rare ship service from South Africa.
It is chiefly known as the island to which French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after his defeat in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and where died.
The Embraer E190-100IGW aircraft took off from Johannesburg on Saturday morning, carrying 78 passengers. It reached St Helena in the afternoon after stopping in the Namibian capital Windhoek.
"I for one am getting really excited about the new chapter in St Helena's history," said St Helena governor Lisa Phillips.
Previously travel to and from the tiny island, with its population of just 4,534, was only possible on the RMS St Helena, which took around six days to complete the journey from South Africa.
The ship's final voyage is scheduled for February.
The British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
St Helena relies on British aid of £52m a year and officials hope increased tourism will make it more self-sufficient.
"This is an important moment in St Helena's route to self-sufficiency," a Dfid spokeswoman said.
"It will boost its tourism industry, creating the opportunity to increase its revenues, and will bring other benefits such as quicker access to healthcare for those living on the island."
John Lee
@johnleewriter
'World’s most useless airport' about to receive first commercial passenger flights http://bit.ly/2yaAKA3
2:38 PM - Oct 9, 2017
St Helena’s airport finally ready for touchdown
Flights to one of the most isolated islands in the world start this week, heralding a rise in tourists for the British overseas territory – whether it’s ready for them or not
theguardian.com
4 Replies 17 Retweets 21 Likes
According to a report in The Guardian newspaper, the island's diverse geology and wildlife, such as the whales that gather off its coast, may appeal to visitors.
But "more flights will have to be added if the airport is to be deemed a success - and not an expensive white elephant", the report said.
Follow
Ed Cropley
@edwardcropley
Inaugural flight to St Helena, aka ‘world’s most useless airport’. Hoping for calm weather in south Atlantic...
7:07 AM - Oct 14, 2017
10 Replies 12 Retweets 57 Likes
St Helena
Part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Population 4,534
Area 47 sq miles
Major language English
Major religion Christianity
Currency St Helena Pound (equal to British pound)
Economy Agriculture, fishing concessions and tourism
Source: UN, World Bank
The island's capital Jamestown
First commercial flight lands on remote St Helena - BBC News
The virgin flight, an SA Airlink service from South Africa, ends the island's long-standing reliance on a ship which sailed every three weeks.
It is hoped that the service, funded by the UK, will boost tourism and help make St Helena more self-sufficient.
But British media have dubbed it "the most useless airport in the world".
The island, part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, was where Napoleon died in exile in 1821.
First commercial flight lands on remote St Helena
14 October 2017
BBC News
The first scheduled commercial airline service to the remote British island of St Helena in the south Atlantic has touched down safely.
The virgin flight, an SA Airlink service from South Africa, ends the island's long-standing reliance on a ship which sailed every three weeks.
It is hoped that the service, funded by the UK, will boost tourism and help make St Helena more self-sufficient.
But British media have dubbed it "the most useless airport in the world".
The opening of the airport was delayed by problems with wind
Built with £285m ($380m) of funding from the UK Department for International Development (Dfid), the airport should have opened in 2016, but dangerous wind conditions delayed the launch.
After further trials this summer, the weekly service between Johannesburg and St Helena was passed as safe.
As seen from inside the cabin, the first ever commercial flight lands at St Helena Airport
St Helena had for decades been one of the world's most inaccessible locations, served only by a rare ship service from South Africa.
It is chiefly known as the island to which French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after his defeat in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and where died.
The Embraer E190-100IGW aircraft took off from Johannesburg on Saturday morning, carrying 78 passengers. It reached St Helena in the afternoon after stopping in the Namibian capital Windhoek.
"I for one am getting really excited about the new chapter in St Helena's history," said St Helena governor Lisa Phillips.
Previously travel to and from the tiny island, with its population of just 4,534, was only possible on the RMS St Helena, which took around six days to complete the journey from South Africa.
The ship's final voyage is scheduled for February.
The British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
St Helena relies on British aid of £52m a year and officials hope increased tourism will make it more self-sufficient.
"This is an important moment in St Helena's route to self-sufficiency," a Dfid spokeswoman said.
"It will boost its tourism industry, creating the opportunity to increase its revenues, and will bring other benefits such as quicker access to healthcare for those living on the island."
John Lee@johnleewriter
'World’s most useless airport' about to receive first commercial passenger flights http://bit.ly/2yaAKA3
2:38 PM - Oct 9, 2017
St Helena’s airport finally ready for touchdown
Flights to one of the most isolated islands in the world start this week, heralding a rise in tourists for the British overseas territory – whether it’s ready for them or not
theguardian.com
4 Replies 17 Retweets 21 Likes
According to a report in The Guardian newspaper, the island's diverse geology and wildlife, such as the whales that gather off its coast, may appeal to visitors.
But "more flights will have to be added if the airport is to be deemed a success - and not an expensive white elephant", the report said.
Follow
Ed Cropley @edwardcropley
Inaugural flight to St Helena, aka ‘world’s most useless airport’. Hoping for calm weather in south Atlantic...
7:07 AM - Oct 14, 2017
10 Replies 12 Retweets 57 Likes
St Helena
Part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Population 4,534
Area 47 sq miles
Major language English
Major religion Christianity
Currency St Helena Pound (equal to British pound)
Economy Agriculture, fishing concessions and tourism
Source: UN, World Bank
The island's capital Jamestown
First commercial flight lands on remote St Helena - BBC News
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