St Helena airport downgrade – Airlink flights cancelled to at least 20 February

On 6 February 2026, St Helena’s Resilience Forum declared a Major Incident after technical assessments indicated the island’s airport is to be downgraded from Category 6, pending regulator confirmation. Citing fixed international safety requirements and a lack of confidence in fire tender readiness, authorities said the airport cannot operate as normal. Airlink will not operate – with all scheduled flights cancelled until at least 20 February.  

St Helena Airport announced on 8 February that they secured regulatory approval from Airport Safety Support International (ASSI) to operate at Category 4. This certification permits small aircraft, such as medical evacuation flights, to use the airport providing additional reassurance to the public in the event of medical emergencies. It also opens a viable air transport route for essential spare parts and technical personnel.

The St Helena Government’s Chief Secretary is leading the response as Gold Commander, coordinating with Airlink, Solomons and other partners to manage impacts and provide updates. The disruption affects residents and visitors alike, with implications for tourism, essential travel and local businesses, while future flights remain under review.

Updates available here: Read More

Source: St Helena Government