The remote Atlantic island of St. Helena, a British overseas territory with its own regional government, can usually be reached by plane from Johannesburg. South African airline Airlink operates the route once or twice a week with a stopover in Namibia, with a total flight time of just over six hours. But now everything is different.
An official statement from the airline said: "We regret to inform you that due to operational challenges at St. Helena Airport, all flights to and from the island are being suspended with immediate effect. Airlink apologises for any inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond our control".
One of the most difficult runways in the world
The issues that led to this decision are clearly related to the safety of the airport. According to information from the competent supervisory authorities in St. Helena, key fire and security standards cannot be fully guaranteed at the moment. Therefore, the airport is closed to regular passenger flights - initially until 20 February.
The runway on the island is considered one of the most difficult in the world. It is located on a high plateau directly above the coast, with steep take-off and landing trajectories and unpredictable winds. Therefore, the airport is only suitable for certain types of aircraft. Large aircraft cannot take off or land there.
"The most useless airport in the world"
The island of St. Helena is located about 1,800 kilometers west of the Angolan coast. The island's airport cost about 300 million euros and was completed in late 2016 after a five-year construction period. It was financed mainly by the UK's development budget.
Critics accuse the designers of not paying enough attention to the difficult geographical conditions. The first test flights showed that larger aircraft had difficulty in strong crosswinds. As a result, the opening of the airport had to be postponed. The first passenger plane landed a year later than planned, and the British press called the airport "the most useless in the world".
Napoleon's last home
St. Helena has about 4,000 inhabitants, plus tourists. There are almost no alternative options for arriving and departing - the island is only visited occasionally by cruise ships and once a month by a cargo ship.
St. Helena is one of the most remote inhabited territories in the world. The island is also known as the place where Napoleon was exiled. Here he spent the last six years of his life.
Author: Stefan Uberbach (ARD)