(Posted 28th November 2023)
Direct flights between Cape Town and the remote Atlantic island of St Helena will resume from December 2024 until March 2025. The new flights will be in addition to the existing weekly flights between St Helena and Johannesburg.
Airlink will operate the flight on Saturdays from and to Cape Town.
The addition of Cape Town to St. Helena flights provides new options for South African travellers looking to visit St Helena, one of the most remote islands in the world.
Until 2017, when St Helena’s only airport opened to the public, Cape Town served as the gateway for St Helena, with regular ship services taking a five-day journey. 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. “
He added: “However, we recognise that many St Helena residents have close ties with Cape Town, which, for centuries, was a 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 (Southern Hemisphere) 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.”
Isolated in the middle of the South Atlantic, the island offers travellers a step back in time. Home to around 4,500 residents, the island is steeped in history as the place of Napoleon’s exile and death. Beyond its historical significance, St Helena’s rugged, volcanic landscape provides diverse opportunities for hiking, and strong conservation efforts nurture a vibrant marine landscape perfect for diving and snorkelling. Due to centuries of seclusion, St Helena maintains a tight-knit community and traditions seemingly untouched by the modern world.
Flight tickets are available online via the Airlink website at www.flyairlink.com and through all IATA travel agents.
The full schedule of flights for the period November 2023 to April 2025 can be found on www.flyairlink.com
