Saint Helena Airport
Saint Helena Airport is an international airport located on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Here are some key details regarding the airport:
- Location: Situated near Prosperous Bay Plain, approximately 5.4 kilometers from the capital, Jamestown.
- Opening: The airport officially opened on May 14, 2016, with the first commercial flight arriving on October 14, 2017.
- Runway: The airport features a single asphalt runway, 1,950 meters long, which is capable of handling medium-sized aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A319.
- Construction: The construction of the airport began in 2012 and was a significant engineering project due to the island's remote location and challenging terrain. The total cost was around £285.5 million.
- Challenges: Initially, there were significant concerns about the wind shear conditions at the airport, which led to delays in opening commercial services. Adjustments to the approach path were made to mitigate these issues.
- Impact: The airport was built to reduce the island's isolation, previously accessible only by a five-day boat trip from Cape Town. It has dramatically improved access for tourists, residents, and supplies.
- Airline Service: As of now, Airlink operates the only regular commercial service to the airport, connecting Saint Helena to Johannesburg with a stopover in Windhoek, Namibia.
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