Commercial flights to St Helena have been suspended after the island’s airport was downgraded by aviation regulators following safety assessments.
St Helena Government confirmed that St Helena Airport was reduced from Category 6, the classification required for scheduled commercial jet operations, after technical evaluations identified concerns related to the operational readiness of the airport’s fire tenders.
Under the revised classification, the airport can continue to accommodate smaller aircraft, including medical evacuation flights. However, the downgrade prevents the resumption of scheduled commercial passenger operations, including services previously operated by Airlink.
Authorities have not indicated a confirmed timeline for the airport’s return to Category 6 status. Officials have stated that commercial operations will remain suspended until confidence is restored in the airport’s emergency response capability.
The suspension significantly impacts access to St Helena, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands. The island relies heavily on air connectivity for tourism, medical travel and the movement of essential supplies.
