First flight into HLE

[kelvedon]

A new IATA code to learn as the first commercial flight arrives in to the newly opened airport on St Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic. A South African Airlink E190 will arrive today from Johannesburg (via Windhoek).

Flights to remote St Helena begin at last

 

[Mattg]

This looks like it would be a really interesting place to visit! I'll keep it in mind as a possible side trip for my next trip to South Africa.

Airfares so far look pretty expensive (which is not surprising). It would be great if they opened up award availability on the JNB-HLE route, but I won't be holding my breath on that one...

 

[Jacques Vert]

Who will be the first AFF member to visit?

 

[kpc]

Who will be the first AFF member do visit?

I was thinking about it esp if I can find award seats...but the flights are weekly so you will be "stuck" there for a week!

 

[Jacques Vert]

...the flights are weekly so you will be "stuck" there for a week!

Bugger; but at least there will be no excuse for not doing an extensive TR.

 

[kelvedon]

I was thinking about it esp if I can find award seats...but the flights are weekly so you will be "stuck" there for a week!

Been reading about the Island. I reckon it would take me a week to climb Jacobs Ladder !
Jacob's Ladder (Saint Helena) - Wikipedia

 

[kpc]

There is already a trip report online!! Flight Review: First Commercial Flight to Remote St. Helena

 

[drron]

And it was on an ex VA plane.

 

[Mattg]

I was thinking about it esp if I can find award seats...but the flights are weekly so you will be "stuck" there for a week!

You could always return on the Royal Mail Ship to Cape Town! The trip only takes 4-5 days.

Ship fares start at around $60.

 

[codash1099]

I was thinking about it esp if I can find award seats...but the flights are weekly so you will be "stuck" there for a week!

You could check with Napoleon about being "stuck" there.

 

[kpc]

You could check with Napoleon about being "stuck" there.

Apparently, Napoleon's body was eventually dug up and reburied in Paris so he did eventually leave St Helena

 

[trooper]

The ship ceases operations in February....

 

[Mattg]

The ship ceases operations in February....

Oh, really?

So, does this mean the flight will become the only link between St Helena and the rest of the world? That would actually be bad news for the local residents, as apparently the airfares are unaffordable and there is no locals' discount.

 

[wanderer_au]

Interesting that’s South African is flying. The airport was apparently a bit of a white elephant as the Brits forgot to factor in the air currents when they built it - rendering it unusable, or so I thought. I wouldn’t be discarding the slow boat just yet...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting that’s South African is flying. The airport was apparently a bit of a white elephant as the Brits forgot to factor in the air currents when they built it - rendering it unusable, or so I thought. I wouldn’t be discarding the slow boat just yet...

I think the air current issue was the reason for the delay in the airport opening? (ie fixed now)

 

[trooper]

I'm assuming (??) that the ship in question is the only PASSENGER vessel that calls there.... Surely there must be cargo ships delivering all the stuff that a small jet is simply incapable of managing???

 

[kelvedon]

Interesting that’s South African is flying. The airport was apparently a bit of a white elephant as the Brits forgot to factor in the air currents when they built it - rendering it unusable, or so I thought. I wouldn’t be discarding the slow boat just yet...

Apparently the weather problems were well known prior to the building the airport. Two earlier studies (in 1943 and 1973) had cited this as an impediment. The certification of the airport for commercial flights was delayed by a year because of the wind shear encountered by a test flight in 2016 (a Comair 737/800). It is rated a
C category airport (level of difficulty) as is LCY, Gibraltar, and Innsbruck.
The £250 million construction cost was justified as increased tourism would hopefully reduce the Islands
£53 million annual UK government subsidy. The other, less emphasised, benefit is as an alternative to Ascension Island as a stepping stone to The Falkland Islands.

This photo of one end of the runway certainly commands commitment!




Saint Helena Island Info: All about St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean • Building St Helena Airport

 

[Mattg]

Looks like this flight will run twice-weekly over summer, meaning you can stay for only 3-4 days rather than a whole week. The stop in WDH has also been removed on the return sector.

SA Airlink plans St. Helena service increase in NW18