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A Visit to St Helena Airport

25/2/2016

7 Comments

 
Picture
St Helena Airport Runway
As the airport nears completion, it is time to fill the building with concessions such as shop, café, restaurant and tourist information.  I was invited to take a look at these areas within the new building along with people interested in hosting these businesses.
First impressions are that the area blends with the local environment, local materials have been utilised in modern ways.  The sheer size and modernity of the terminal building are incongruent with the rest of the island with its traditional and historic links.  Having said this, the contrast is nothing but positive, it shows that this little island is ready to host the world's tourists and to treat them in the manner to which they are accustomed.
Picture
Control tower with some very fancy stone work.
Picture
Don't often get to wear such stylish kit
PictureThis is going to be the airside cafe
The exteriors of some of the building, especially around the control tower and fire station, have been cladded with a dry stone effect which looks fantastic.  Inside there are walls of wood panelling, light coloured tile floors and lots of glass.  There is a feeling of light and space throughout. 
The terminal is to have two catering outlets, one airside café and another landside one which will also have a viewing area.

Picture
The main lobby with tourist office on the right
Outside the terminal on the arrivals side there is paving and real roads with no potholes in them and a large car park.  I can envisage locals coming here just to drive on a flat surface!  Entry to the building is by a wide walkway, which again is flat, ready for many trolleys and wheels of suitcases.
Picture
The entrance
Picture
The airport building from the runway with landside restaurant area on the far right
My fellow visitors and I agreed that the island's airport is going to be a massive asset and one to be proud of.  Its not only going to bring tourists to the island and the accompanying benefit to the economy, but also its going to bring families closer together and give opportunities to many in the form of jobs and more efficient connections with the outside world.  A great achievement!
Picture
Control tower
7 Comments
Robert Legg
25/2/2016 11:55:06

Very Beautiful cant wait to come home an c it for myself well done to all

Reply
Andy Turner link
25/2/2016 15:11:21

i just hope that they can keep the cost of long flights down at least to start with .

Reply
Lynas Murdoch
25/2/2016 20:59:35

The new terminal building looks great, and I wish it huge success. It does, however, beg one big question - How many flights a week are we talking about???

Reply
Marilyn
25/2/2016 21:06:48

Looking fantastic I just can't wait to return home to see my family and friends again.

Reply
John Lowrie link
26/2/2016 02:15:47

The airport does indeed look good, not just for visitors, but for an amenity that all Saints will be able to enjoy as a day out. I expect if locally-owned businesses can operate there, the new modernity will be enhanced by good-old Saint Helenian character. I make the point again though, that the decision not to base flights to and from Cape Town, with its centuries of connections with the Island, and its Saint Helenian disapora, is sinply wrong and must be corrected.

Reply
Lynas Murdoch
1/3/2016 17:39:52

Couldn't agree more about Capetown being the only logical base for flights to and from the island.

Reply
Pietro de Marchi
2/3/2016 23:19:50

I agree4. Sooner or later they will change to Cape Town.


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