An airport is being constructed on the South Atlantic island of St Helena – at present only served by a five-day trip aboard the RMS St Helena from Cape Town.
Possibly the most remote island in the world, St Helena is home to approximately 4 000 people. Access is currently by boat only, but the opening of the airport will change life as St Helena knows it – and offer new opportunities for economic and tourism development.
The history leading up to the construction of the airport began in 2005, when the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) approved a project to develop air access to the island through the construction of an airport.
On November 3, 2011, a contract was signed between the UK government and SA construction firm, Basil Read, to build it. Now, the first ever airport on St Helena, with a terminal building alongside a 1 500-metre runway, is under construction - and due to open in December 2015.
It is seen to offer bright skies ahead for St Helena’s economy.
Financially, it is mostly supported by the UK government and other overseas donors, but all that is changing with the new airport under construction, and combined with the 10-year Economic Development Plan’s outputs. With the right conditions, St Helena could achieve a top 10% ranking globally for GDP growth.
The private sector needs to undergo dynamic growth in order to provide St Helena with the financially independent future it wants. This will require existing and new businesses, owned by both Saints and inward investors, to invest and grow their capabilities and capacities.
