THE St Helena Government
(SHG) has announced
that SA Airlink has been
chosen as the preferred
bidder to provide a scheduled
commercial air service to the
remote South Atlantic island.
This has been confirmed
by SA Airlink ceo, Rodger
Foster, said details of the
service would be announced
on finalisation of negotiations
with SHG.
SHG confirmed it would
now enter into a period of
contractual negotiations with
SA Airlink and that a formal
announcement about a
three-year-contract would be
made in the coming weeks
on completion of negotiations
and contract signing. “It is
at this point that SHG will
be able to confirm details
such as the commencement
date, frequency, aircraft type,
the international hub and
connecting airports. Details
on the cost of fares and sales
distribution will be released
shortly after contract signing.
The public are asked to be
patient during this period of
negotiation, after which all of
the details outlined above will
be publicised,” the SHG said
in a statement.
Rodger welcomed the
announcement as a
significant vote of confidence
in Airlink. “We look forward to
the next step in the process
leading to the formalisation of
an agreement for what will be
a historic step in St Helena’s
development.”
SHG on December 7 called
for renewed tenders for air
services to St Helena and
Ascension Island after an
original three-year contract
awarded to Comair ran into
difficulties following wind
shear concerns at the new
£285m (R4.6bn) airport. SA
Airlink’s selection follows
a demonstration of the
capability of its newly acquired
Embraer E-190 to land and
take off from the airport. On
May 3, Airlink also operated
a special charter flight from
Cape Town to St Helena.
SHG earlier stated it
intended to appoint an
operator using an aircraft
capable of landing on the
southern approach (Runway
02) of the airport, which
involved tailwind, while
continuing to explore the
potential for scheduled
services into the northern
approach (Runway 20).
Airlink to fly to St Helena
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