St Helena Airport regains full operations as flights resume from 17 February 2026

last updated 17 February 2026 

After a short period of disruption, commercial air travel to St Helena is back on track. Authorities have confirmed that St Helena Airport has regained Category 6 firefighting accreditation, allowing full air operations and scheduled flights to resume.

This update is especially important for travellers planning trips to the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena, where air access is the primary gateway for tourism and essential travel.

Firefighting accreditation restored

On 15 February 2026, airport authorities confirmed that Category 6 accreditation has been reinstated following extensive technical work on the airport’s rescue and firefighting fleet.

The milestone was achieved through the efforts of airport mechanics supported by specialist engineers from Marcé. Full commissioning tests were successfully completed using fire tender R1, which will operate alongside R3 and the St Helena Fire and Rescue Service.

The results were reviewed and accepted by the independent regulator Air Safety Support International (ASSI), clearing the airport to resume normal commercial operations.

Repairs to the R2 fire tender are continuing, but officials confirmed this does not affect the newly restored accreditation. Longer-term fleet replacement options are being explored with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to strengthen future resilience.

First flights resume with limited passenger availability

The first scheduled flight to St Helena operated by Airlink is planned for today (17 February 2026), subject to favourable weather conditions.

However, travellers should note an important limitation:

• No tickets will be sold for the 17 February 2026 flight or the 21 February 2026 service.
• Passengers who already hold bookings for these flights should travel as planned.
• Remaining seats will be used primarily for repatriation passengers, allocated based on the length of travel delays.
• Travellers should not contact the airline or the airport directly - updates will be provided by Solomon & Company (St Helena).

When normal bookings reopen

For travellers planning future trips to St Helena, there is positive news:

• New bookings will reopen from Tuesday, 24 February 2026 onwards.
• Ticket sales are expected to resume soon once the backlog of delayed passengers has been cleared.

This timeline marks the return of reliable air access to one of the world’s most remote destinations.

What this means for travellers

The restoration of firefighting capability removes the last operational barrier to regular flights. For visitors, this means:

• Travel planning to St Helena can resume with confidence
• Tourism recovery on the island can restart
• Future flight schedules should stabilise in the coming weeks

If St Helena has been on your bucket list, the window to plan new trips is reopening - just be prepared for short-term booking pressure as demand returns.

Travel tip: Once bookings reopen, expect limited seat availability initially. Early planning and flexibility will be key for securing flights to the island.

 

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