Remote island airport ending Saint Helena's isolation.
Opened
2016
Location
Jamestown, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Helena International Airport (IATA: HLE, ICAO: FHSH) serves the remote British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Constructed at great expense on a challenging site near Jamestown, the airport ended the island's reliance on a single passenger ship, the RMS St Helena, for access to the outside world.
The airport was officially opened in October 2016, though commercial scheduled services were delayed due to a wind shear problem discovered during test flights that required modifications to aircraft approach procedures. Regular commercial passenger flights eventually commenced in 2017. The airport is located approximately 9 kilometres from Jamestown, the island's capital.
Saint Helena is famous as the final place of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte, who died there in 1821. The airport has been central to efforts to develop tourism on the island, though its extreme remoteness and limited route network continue to constrain visitor numbers.
Terminals
The airport has a single small terminal building designed to handle the limited passenger traffic of this remote island destination.
Getting to & from
Taxi and shuttle services connect the airport to Jamestown, approximately 9 kilometres away, as public transport options are very limited.
Airlines here
Airlink is the primary airline serving Saint Helena, operating routes connecting the island to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Notable facts
- ›The airport cost approximately £285 million to construct, funded largely by UK government aid.
- ›Wind shear issues discovered during test flights delayed the start of commercial services for several months after the 2016 opening.
- ›The RMS St Helena passenger ship was retired from service following the airport's opening.
- ›Saint Helena is one of the most remote permanently inhabited islands in the world.
- ›The airport's construction required significant earthworks on the island's rugged terrain.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
