Isolated in the middle of the South Atlantic, St Helena boasts rugged volcanic landscapes and is steeped in history.
Those looking to make their way to the subtropical paradise next summer are in for some good news. Direct flights between Cape Town and the remote St Helena Island will resume from December 2024 until March 2025.
Image: Supplied
These will supplement the existing weekly flights between St Helena and Johannesburg.
The flights, operated by Airlink, will run on Saturdays from Cape Town and on Tuesdays from Johannesburg.
The addition of Cape Town flights provides new options for South African travellers looking to visit St Helena, one of theworld’s most remote islands.
Up until 2017, when St Helena’s first and only airport opened to the public, Cape Town served as the gateway for St Helena, with regular ship services over the centuries (a five-day voyage to reach the island). Today, the flight takes just a few hours from South Africa – and the additional flight from Cape Town offers different options for lengths of stay for South African holidaymakers to the island.
“In the six years since Airlink was awarded the contract to operate air services between St Helena and the African mainland, we have seen a steady post-COVID recovery and rise in demand for travel to and from the island,” said Airlink CEO Rodger Foster.
‘Starting initially as a weekly service, we’ve since introduced a seasonal second-weekly service to cover the summer holiday period between Johannesburg and St Helena.’
Foster further added that Airlink acknowledges that many St Helena residents have close ties with Cape Town as it was the primary gateway to the island.
‘Cape Town is a launchpad for tourism beyond South Africa. By linking it directly with St Helena to cover the summer season at the end of 2024, Airlink will provide a convenient and reliable service to what is a unique, largely unspoiled, and attractive destination which is also of historical significance.’
St Helena is home to around 4 500 residents and provides diverse opportunities for hiking, diving and snorkeling. Due to centuries of seclusion, the island maintains a tight-knit community and traditions seemingly untouched by the modern world.
Flight tickets are available online via the Airlink website and through all IATA travel agents.
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