Atlantic runway to open up St. Helena island

The St. Helena International Airport construction project represents a historic milestone for one of the most remote islands in the world.

Comair, a South African airline and British Airways franchisee, has already been selected to operate a weekly flight between the island and Johannesburg.

About 4,500 people live on the island.

At the moment traveling between Europe and St. Helena is a costly proposition, both in terms of time and money.

After reaching Cape Town, visitors must spend five and half days at sea aboard the RMS St. Helena.

Once on the island, travelers must wait until the ship makes its next visit before they can leave -- meaning a month-long trip with no flexibility of dates, a luxury few travelers can afford.

Mostly it's the islanders that suffer the inconveniences of isolation.

Atlantic Star Airlines expects "Saints," as the locals are commonly called, to make up most of the air traffic, at least initially.

St. Helena has a population of about 4,500, but there another 10,000 Saints overseas, mainly in the UK.

Those that leave the island in order to work or study overseas are often resigned to spending long periods of time away from their loved ones.

No wonder that anticipation is running high among the islanders over the new air service.

Almost 200 years ago a British warship transported Napoleon Bonaparte to his exile on the island of St. Helena, a place from where it would be impossible for him to escape ever again.

Napoleon died in exile on St. Helena.


CNN