Saint Helena Airport, International airport in Saint Helena, South Atlantic Ocean
Saint Helena Airport sits on a plateau about 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level and features a concrete runway that runs along steep cliffs. The runway measures nearly 2 kilometers in length and offers open views over the South Atlantic.
Planning for the project began in the early 2000s, and construction started in 2011 through a South African contractor. Regular commercial operations only commenced in 2017 after pilots spent several years studying local wind conditions.
Residents can now greet friends and family after a flight of a few hours instead of a voyage lasting several days by ship. Many older inhabitants still remember when the arrival of a mail ship represented a social event for the entire community.
A weekly flight service connects the island with Johannesburg, with some flights also including Cape Town or Ascension Island during certain months. The drive from Jamestown to the terminal takes about half an hour on winding roads.
Engineers had to fill an entire valley with rock and earth to create a level surface for construction. This terrain was formerly known as Dry Gut and formed a deep ravine between two ridges in the island interior.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
