Saint Helena "The World's Most Useless Airport"
Jan 15, 2020, 6:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Garden of England
Programs: BA Silver AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 661
Saint Helena "The World's Most Useless Airport"
Inspired by Talesfromtheroad report from a trip to The Falklands I thought I best get my pictures from a trip to another British Overseas Territory posted.
Background
My Mum had wanted to go to St Helena for years after seeing it on a TV programme about the Royal Mail Ship that used to serve the island. A medical condition ruled out spending 5 days on a boat so when the airport finally opened it was time to start planning. A bit more about the airport from Wikipedia here
This trip was in April 2018.
Planning
Mum doesn't do economy and a through ticket in business from LHR on SA was the price of a small house so I booked an ex-EU BA ticket AMS-LGW/LHR-CPT-JNB-LHR/LGW-AMS and a seperate JNB-HLE return with the only airline that flies the route, once a week, South African Airlink. We had a week in Cape Town on the way out and a few days in J'Burg on the way back.
I booked The Consulate Hotel in Jamestown for our week in St Helena. All done online via email. There was a better, Government owned, hotel but Mum preferred the colonial syle of The Consulate and I think it was the right choice.
After a fabulous time in Cape Town we headed to JNB and stayed overnight in an airport hotel. Check in the next morning was straightforward and we made our way to the SA lounge. I noticed a creeping delay on the screens but the desk couldn't shed any light and suggested we ask at the gate. Long story short we ended up being delayed for two days due to weather at HLE. Most of the first day was spent waiting to be reunited with our luggage. When it became clear on the second day that we weren't going I hired a car and went exploring.
This is going to be mostly photos but if anyone would like to know more feel free to ask.
Finally on our way
On the way out there was a tech stop at WDH to top up the tanks in case we couldn't land at HLE
Landing cards were handed out prior to landing
First glimpse of St Helena
View while waiting for luggage
The Consulate Hotel
Napoleon's House
Just pictures of the outside as no pictures are allowed to be taken inside.
Plantation House
Jonathon and Frederika the giant tortoise
Jonathon is believed to be 187 years old
Jacobs Ladder
The steps built by The Royal Engineers that go from Jamestown up to the fort
Loads of great 70's and 80's cars to see
Jamestown Prison
Right in the centre of town
Our hire car
Some views around the island
Leaving
There was a business class check in but we just waited with everyone else. Same with the lounge, they offered to open it up but it seemed a bit much for just us. They also provide a food and drink voucher for business class pax.
One final pic
Browsing a book in the library at our hotel I found a page amended probably by a French National, if you can't see it the original text says "Longwood New House especially constructed for the tyrant Boneparte and his entourage" Someone has crossed and tyrant and written Emperor.
Conclusion
It was like nowhere else I'd been before. We got to know most of the people from the flight on the way out, including the St Helena Commenwealth Games team who were on their way back from Australia. A friendly place, when you're walking around everyone will say hello and when you're driving every passing car will wave. It reminded me of my days growing up in the Kent countryside.
Spike
Background
My Mum had wanted to go to St Helena for years after seeing it on a TV programme about the Royal Mail Ship that used to serve the island. A medical condition ruled out spending 5 days on a boat so when the airport finally opened it was time to start planning. A bit more about the airport from Wikipedia here
This trip was in April 2018.
Planning
Mum doesn't do economy and a through ticket in business from LHR on SA was the price of a small house so I booked an ex-EU BA ticket AMS-LGW/LHR-CPT-JNB-LHR/LGW-AMS and a seperate JNB-HLE return with the only airline that flies the route, once a week, South African Airlink. We had a week in Cape Town on the way out and a few days in J'Burg on the way back.
I booked The Consulate Hotel in Jamestown for our week in St Helena. All done online via email. There was a better, Government owned, hotel but Mum preferred the colonial syle of The Consulate and I think it was the right choice.
After a fabulous time in Cape Town we headed to JNB and stayed overnight in an airport hotel. Check in the next morning was straightforward and we made our way to the SA lounge. I noticed a creeping delay on the screens but the desk couldn't shed any light and suggested we ask at the gate. Long story short we ended up being delayed for two days due to weather at HLE. Most of the first day was spent waiting to be reunited with our luggage. When it became clear on the second day that we weren't going I hired a car and went exploring.
This is going to be mostly photos but if anyone would like to know more feel free to ask.
Finally on our way
On the way out there was a tech stop at WDH to top up the tanks in case we couldn't land at HLE
Landing cards were handed out prior to landing
First glimpse of St Helena
View while waiting for luggage
The Consulate Hotel
Napoleon's House
Just pictures of the outside as no pictures are allowed to be taken inside.
Plantation House
Jonathon and Frederika the giant tortoise
Jonathon is believed to be 187 years old
Jacobs Ladder
The steps built by The Royal Engineers that go from Jamestown up to the fort
Loads of great 70's and 80's cars to see
Jamestown Prison
Right in the centre of town
Our hire car
Some views around the island
Leaving
There was a business class check in but we just waited with everyone else. Same with the lounge, they offered to open it up but it seemed a bit much for just us. They also provide a food and drink voucher for business class pax.
One final pic
Browsing a book in the library at our hotel I found a page amended probably by a French National, if you can't see it the original text says "Longwood New House especially constructed for the tyrant Boneparte and his entourage" Someone has crossed and tyrant and written Emperor.
Conclusion
It was like nowhere else I'd been before. We got to know most of the people from the flight on the way out, including the St Helena Commenwealth Games team who were on their way back from Australia. A friendly place, when you're walking around everyone will say hello and when you're driving every passing car will wave. It reminded me of my days growing up in the Kent countryside.
Spike
Last edited by Funky Spike; Jan 15, 2020 at 6:03 pm Reason: Shot spolling
Jan 16, 2020, 4:09 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 11
Report
Excellent Report! I'd love to get across there sometime! I was involved with the building of the airport and know all of the problems the aircraft face as they approach- the 1000ft cliff wasn't taken into consideration when they planned the airport and now is causing all sorts of problems.
TFTR
TFTR
Jan 16, 2020, 5:31 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Garden of England
Programs: BA Silver AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 661
Thank you. I've been meaning to post the photos for a long time.
Thank you. Its a shame that the flights aren't bringing the number of tourists they hoped for. We were the only ones at The Consulate during our stay and at a guess there were only 15 or so tourists on our flights.
Thank you. I was talking about St Helena with Mum last week. We both agreed that we'd like to go back.
Spike
Excellent Report! I'd love to get across there sometime! I was involved with the building of the airport and know all of the problems the aircraft face as they approach- the 1000ft cliff wasn't taken into consideration when they planned the airport and now is causing all sorts of problems.
TFTR
TFTR
Thank you. I was talking about St Helena with Mum last week. We both agreed that we'd like to go back.
Spike
Jan 16, 2020, 8:20 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,286
Thanks for the report, looks to be a place to spend a couple of place especially it looks like it remained untouched with all modernity these days. Will have to keep this in mind when I next visit South Africa.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Jan 17, 2020, 10:52 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
Jan 17, 2020, 6:51 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Garden of England
Programs: BA Silver AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 661
Pleasure. Been meaning to post something for ages.
Spike
