 |
| The first plane touches down at St Helena airport. |
Stepping out of the aircraft, Captain Grant Brighton said his crew
were privileged to have flown the first plane to land on St Helena to prepare
for the airport’s opening in February next year.
Once Brighton’s calibrations are complete, the islanders will be
another step closer to an alternative supply route as well as a new revenue
source — 168 tourists flown in once a week from O.R. Tambo
International Airport
on one of Comair’s Boeing 737-800 planes. The flight time from Johannesburg to
St Helena will be about four-and-a-half hours.
 |
| Soon to be sailing a different route, the RMS St Helena. |
The giant project to officially open an a £218 million
(R4,4 billion) international airport on the island was undertaken four years ago
by Basil Read contractors. Basil Read’s Deon de Jager said he was very proud of
what the team has achieved to finish ahead of schedule.
Watching the historic first landing yesterday, St Helena councilor
Lawson Henry said the moment was long awaited and quite emotional. “It has
finally happened. This is history in the making and we’re a part of it.”
Airport project director Janet Lawrence said the moment was
preceded by years of planning and thousands of man hours and it’s not over yet.
“There’s still a great deal more to be done
— but this event clearly shows that we’re going
in the right direction.”
While all the islanders are excited about the prospects of an
air-bridge with South Africa, tourists will miss the unique, week-long sailing
experience on RMS St Helena, the world’s last working Royal Mail ship that still
delivers cargo and passenger to St Helena and Ascensions islands.
 |
| St Helena seen from above. |
