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The St Helena Government (SHG) acknowledges the significant disruption and concern caused by the current suspension of commercial air services.

We wish to provide the community with a comprehensive update on the progress being made to restore full operations, and the information we have available to date. To that end and to address a number of the questions raised by members of the public, we have prepared a Q&A document. It can be accessed here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/airport-closure-qa/. We will continue to update the document as the situation changes.

Current Status and Safety Measures

Following intensive work by the St Helena Airport team and the St Helena Fire and Rescue Service, the regulator has granted approval for the airport to operate at Category 4. This allows for Medevac flights and small executive-type jets to land on St Helena, providing a viable route for spare parts and additional technical expertise, as well as time critical overseas medical referrals.

Due to an incident overnight, we now expect a Medevac flight to take place tomorrow. This flight is operating to the same timescales as would normally be the case. This should reassure the public that essential medical services are fully operational.

Whilst this is a vital step in maintaining a lifeline to the island, we stress that Category 4 is not a replacement for commercial services. Airlink have currently suspended future bookings to St Helena. This should not be taken as an indication of how long the disruption will last and flights will only be cancelled on a flight-by-flight basis, as necessary. 

As of today, 10 February 2026, only flights for 7, 10, 14 and 15 February 2026 have been cancelled.

Restoring the airport to Category 6, required for Airlink’s commercial flights, as soon as possible remains our highest priority.

The Path to Restoration

We are pursuing multiple short and long-term solutions in parallel, including:

We are working with the regulator across all solutions to understand how we can safely achieve a return to Category 6 status for normal operations to resume as soon as possible.

Residents Overseas

To assist with repatriation at the earliest opportunity, we are currently relocating residents from Cape Town to Johannesburg. We are aware that, for many, the health provisions of travel insurance may be running out. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in South Africa, we strongly recommend that you speak with Solomons and extend your cover if you are affected. 

Operational Response and Community Support

Gold Command is continuing to meet daily, coordinating efforts locally and internationally. The Major Incident Response Plan is functioning effectively, with personnel across various agencies working around the clock.

For those requiring assistance, refer to the contact points at the bottom of this press release for matters regarding on-island support.

Public Discourse and Professionalism

SHG remains committed to a transparent review of these events at an appropriate time, once the operational response is no longer the primary focus.

Whilst we welcome constructive feedback and recognise the right of the public to express frustration or criticism, we must address the nature of recent online commentary. However, we do not condone discrimination nor racism. Abuse directed toward St Helena Airport or SHG staff will also not be tolerated. Our teams are working tirelessly to resolve this crisis and they deserve a safe and respectful environment in order to do this.

We thank the community for its continued patience and resilience. This situation will not be resolved overnight, but we are moving as quickly and safely as possible to return to normal operations.

Contacts

For all affected passengers, information regarding flight bookings, travel logistics, accommodation, and other travel-related support is available from Solomons Travel Agency directly at 22523 or  flights@solomons.co.sh.

Any immigration concerns can be directed to cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh.

For pharmacy assistance or general health-related questions, please contact Jamestown Hospital at 22500 during normal opening hours.

#StHelena #AirAccess

On Monday, 9 February 2026 His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE and the Honourable Chief Minister Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE made a statement on the current airport disruption to the media.

This was broadcast on SAMS Radio 1 and Saint FM and is available on Spotify:

SAMS Radio 1 – https://open.spotify.com/episode/4U3nlUUz4VXDB4eXpBWlwy?si=FDItmOqpRieGCJdZDaLepA

Saint FM – https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YiPPeR7kBLP4N53mXpEh5?si=YiyUYuVnQnaK-4LbT4UwDA

For those unable to listen to the broadcast, the transcript appears below:

[Governor]

The Chief Minister and I know that many of you are concerned about the disruption at the airport and the impact it is having on individuals, families, businesses and medical needs. We want to provide an update on progress to-date and next steps.

First, we are pleased to confirm that the airport has now secured regulatory approval from Air Safety Support International to operate at Category 4. This is a very important step and has only been possible thanks to the Herculean efforts of the airport team, our Fire and Rescue Service, the Gold Command group and the regulator.

Most importantly, this means medevac flights can operate.

Category 4 also means that small aircraft can land. This is not a solution to replace general passenger transport. But it does provide a safe and viable route for getting essential spare parts and specialist engineers to the island. This will help us move forward at speed with getting the airport fully operational again.

At the same time, we need to manage expectations. Category 4 does not allow for Airlink’s commercial flights to resume, that requires Category 6 status.

At this time the only flights that have been cancelled are those that were due to depart on 7, 10, 14 and 15 February. This is a moving picture and future flights remain under active review. Airlink have currently suspended future bookings on St Helena flights to avoid confusion until there is greater clarity on when flights will resume.

We are aware of speculation circulating on social media, including questions of blame and calls for investigations. We understand that people want answers, so does government, so does the airport team.   

Let us be clear: we will absolutely examine what has happened, not least because none of us want this to happen again. That work will be done with transparency, but it must be done in the right way and at the right time.  We will not take any action that prejudices the proper processes that will follow.

For now it is critical we keep our eye on the ball and nothing can be allowed to interfere with the immediate operational effort to restore our commercial air access.

Chief Minister…

[Chief Minister]

As the Governor has set out, this is a challenging time for many and I know the airport’s temporary closure has caused real worry and disruption. I want to assure everyone we are all doing our very best to support those people affected and resolve the situation as soon as possible. This is a collective effort by many and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts and patience as we work through this together. Beyond Gold Command, this includes relevant agencies, tourism, private businesses and local media services.

For now, our priorities remain:

Gold Command continues to meet daily, and they are working closely with all local agencies and international partners.

Contact points have been shared in the press and online for those with enquiries about bookings, travel logistics; immigration; pharmacy and health.

[Governor]

Thank you, Chief Minister.

To close.  The community’s patience and resilience are hugely appreciated. We remain fully committed to guiding the Island through this calmly, transparently and undertake to share updates as they become available

On behalf of the Chief Minister and myself, thank you for your attention..

#StHelena #AirAccess

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

The aerodrome rescue and firefighting category defines the types of aircraft an airport can safely manage based on its firefighting capability. Achieving Category 4 was made possible with the support of the SHG Fire and Rescue Service and additional training for airport personnel.

This categorisation does not allow for the resumption of Airlink commercial airline operations. 

Operational Status, Flight, and Immigration Enquiries

Gold Command continues to meet daily. We are actively working with local agencies and international partners to restore normal airport operations (Category 6) as quickly and safely as possible. 

For specific information regarding flight bookings or travel logistics, passengers should contact Solomons Travel Agency directly at 22523 or  flights@solomons.co.sh.

Any immigration concerns can be directed to cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh.

For pharmacy assistance or general health-related questions, please contact Jamestown Hospital at 22500 during normal opening hours.

#StHelena #AirAccess #Category4

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Following the temporary closure of St Helena Airport on Friday 6 February, Gold Command will continue to meet daily to coordinate a resolution. We understand the uncertainty this situation brings to residents and visitors alike, and we remain committed to providing updates as the situation evolves.

Medical Continuity and Overseas Treatment

The Health and Social Care Portfolio is working closely with patients scheduled for overseas medical referrals. Individuals currently awaiting overseas medical treatment will receive ongoing contact and regular updates regarding their specific travel plans and appointments.

Support for Visitors on Island

We wish to reassure all tourists and visitors that their health remains a priority.  If your prescribed medication is depleted as a result of the flight delays, and you require essential medication please note the following:

For pharmacy assistance or general health-related questions, please contact Jamestown Hospital at 22500 during normal opening hours.

Operational Status, Flight and Immigration Enquiries

Gold Command is actively exploring all available options and working with international partners to restore normal airport operations as quickly and safely as possible.   

For specific information regarding flight bookings or travel logistics, passengers should contact Solomons Travel Agency directly at 22523 or  flights@solomons.co.sh  or Airlink at Airlink Reservations Support desk on +27 11 451 7300 select option 1 or E-Ticketing@flyairlink.com, alternatively contact the Customer Care Team on CustomerCare@FlyAirlink.com.

Any immigration concerns can be directed to cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh.

#StHelena #AltogetherHealthier

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The St Helena Government regrets to inform the public that St Helena Airport is currently unable to operate as normal. Following technical assessments, the aviation regulator is expected to confirm that the airport must be downgraded from Category 6. This decision is based on fixed international safety requirements and a lack of confidence in the operational readiness of the fire tenders, meaning the airport cannot safely support standard flight operations at this time.

A downgrading from Category 6 means Airlink will not operate. As such Airlink flights will be cancelled until the issue can be resolved. We believe at this stage that this will affect all flights until at least 20 February. We will keep future flights under review until we can give certainty around the resumption of business as usual. We are working to confirm whether medical evacuation flights will be affected.

We recognise that this will affect many people, including those with upcoming travel plans, those expecting visitors and individuals with urgent medical needs that require travel off-Island. We know this will cause concern and we are deeply aware of the disruption this situation creates for families, businesses and the wider community.

We are working urgently with all stakeholders to understand the full impact. This includes close cooperation with Airlink, Solomons and other partners so that we can address questions, provide clarity where possible and ensure that advice and updates are consistent and timely.

Our priority is to restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible. We are assessing all available options. No aircraft will operate until we are fully confident that the airport meets the safety standards required to keep passengers, crew and staff safe.

In response to this situation, a Major Incident has been declared. This means that the Chief Secretary has assumed control as Gold Commander and is directing the response to this incident through a Gold Command group comprising key stakeholders. The Chief Secretary will keep Executive Council informed and ensure public messaging is updated. Operational contact points will be shared as soon as possible.

As we receive further information we will share it with the public and will continue to work with partners to explore all possible solutions for those affected.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to resolve this situation.

For those with flight bookings, please contact Solomons or Airlink:

Solomons phone: 22523

Solomons email: flights@solomons.co.sh

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

At their meeting on Tuesday 27 January 2026, Executive Council endorsed the Financial Services Regulation Policy 2025 that was approved by the former Executive Council in January 2025; the approval  of the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to be presented as Government business to the Legislative Council and the approval in principle of the Financial Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, to come into force following enactment of the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Financial Services Regulation Policy aims to modernise selected parts of our financial services regulatory framework. It is driven by the Sustainable Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) 2023-2033, as well as SHG’s Vision and Strategy. The SEDS states that “SHG has identified that St Helena’s financial services laws and regulations require reform and modernisation to encourage competition within the sector and support economic growth. There are substantial gaps in current legislation. SHG’s objective is to enhance the financial services landscape by removing barriers to entry, while working toward compliance with international best practice and recommendations.” It notes that comprehensive reform and updates to existing financial services laws and regulations are required for St Helena to achieve its development goals.

The Financial Services Regulation Policy 2025 has four key objectives:

The objectives are all inter-related. In particular, success in making St Helena a commercially attractive destination for financial services businesses in turn requires a more modern regulatory framework to cope with the needs and expectations of new businesses, especially overseas owned or managed businesses which choose to establish a presence in St Helena. In addition, the regulatory architecture helps to fulfill the customers’ needs of improved consumer protection measures and high-level service standards, in turn increasing the confidence and accountability within the financial service sector.

Minister for Economic Development, Karl Thrower, commented:

“This is an important step in modernising St Helena’s financial services framework. It supports our Sustainable Economic Development Strategy by making St Helena a more attractive place to do business—removing unnecessary barriers, encouraging healthy competition, and strengthening governance.

Just as importantly, these reforms enhance protections for customers by improving consumer safeguards and raising service and accountability standards.”

#StHelena #FinancialServicesRegulations

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The St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce that the St Helena Badge of Honour has been officially presented to brothers Anthony ‘Futcher’ Henry and Doran Henry for their lifelong, exceptional service to the island’s maritime environment and sea rescue.

His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Phillips CBE, recently hosted a ceremony at Plantation House to formally present the Badge of Honour to Anthony and Doran. The awards were presented in the presence of close family and friends, recognising the brothers’ lifelong dedication and exceptional contributions to the island’s maritime sector and emergency services.

Decades of Maritime Mastery

The Henry brothers’ expertise is rooted in a lifetime of experience on the Jamestown wharf. Learning their craft from an early age under the guidance of their father, ‘Charlie Boar,’ they developed an intimate knowledge of St Helena’s coastal waters and fishing grounds.

This foundational skill set led to invaluable contribution to the island’s maritime operations. For decades, both men were integral to the complex cargo and fuel tanker operations managed by Solomons. Their ability to, on occasion in the past, liaise directly with ship Captains and execute boat manoeuvring in rough seas was often the deciding factor in successful medivac transfer and successfully landing essential supplies for the island.

A Commitment to Sea Rescue

In addition to their professional duties, Anthony and Doran provided significant support to the island’s search and rescue capabilities over several decades:

HE Governor Nigel Philllips CBE commented:

“It was a great pleasure to present the Badge of Honour to Anthony and Doran Henry at Plantation House. Their lifelong dedication to St Helena’s maritime safety and their specialised skills in our coastal waters represent a remarkable legacy of service.

From their early days on the wharf to their decades of commitment to sea rescue, they have played a vital role in protecting our community and ensuring the delivery of essential services to the island. This award recognises not only their past achievements but also the invaluable knowledge they have contributed to our maritime heritage.”

Community Impact and Recognition

The brothers’ service has previously been noted at the highest levels, having been recognised by HRH Princess Anne during her visit to St Helena in 2002.

In awarding the Badge of Honour, SHG acknowledges not only their technical bravery and past service but also their status as respected mentors within the maritime community. Their instincts and experience remain a vital part of the island’s seafaring heritage.

SHG extends its warm congratulations to Anthony ‘Futcher’ and Doran Henry on receiving this well-deserved recognition.

Note to Editors

The St Helena Badge of Honour is awarded by the Governor to residents who have provided loyal and valuable service worthy of recognition by the St Helena Government, or for acts of bravery.

Photos

HE the Governor, Mrs Phillips, Anthony and Doran Henry, and invited family and friends

The Certificates of Honour awarded to Anthony and Doran

HE the Governor congratulating Anthony Henry

The Governor and Doran Henry

A toast to Anthony and Doran Henry

The brothers and their mother, Mrs Ethel Henry

The original Search and Rescue Team before the official St Helena Search and Rescue were established. From left: Kelvin Williams, Doran Henry, Graham Sim and Anthony Henry

#StHelena #BadgeOfHonour #SeaRescue #MaritimeService

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The St Helena Resilience Forum – Warning and Informing Group, in consultation with Connect Saint Helena Ltd, has officially moved the island into Stage One of the Drought Response Plan. This action is necessary to protect our remaining water reserves and to avoid a severe water crisis in the coming weeks, caused by steadily falling surface water flows, increased consumption, and rising temperatures.

Protecting Our Collective Water Supply

To maintain a reliable water supply over the coming weeks, national resilience depends on every resident, business, and government department taking proactive steps now to extend our available water resources. By managing our water carefully today, we can help ensure there is enough to support the entire island until the rains return.

How we can work together

•        Save water wherever possible: Every litre saved helps our supply last longer.

•        Reduce non-essential water use: Please avoid washing cars and unnecessary watering of plants, gardens, or lawns during this period.

•        Use water responsibly: Being mindful now will help ensure there is enough water for everyone in the weeks ahead.

The situation is being monitored daily, and regular updates will be provided as conditions change.

#StHelena #DroughtManagementPlan

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A meeting of Executive Council (ExCo) was held on 27 January 2026.

The agenda for the meeting was as follows:

CLOSED AGENDA
1. Declaration of Interest
2.Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 18 November 2025  
3. Matters Arising from Minutes of 18 November 2025  
4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 16 December 2025  
5. Matters Arising from Minutes of 16 December 2025  
6. Financial Services Regulation Policy, 2025 (ExCo Memo 01/2026)  
7. Land Registry Fees (ExCo Memo 02/2026)  
8. Ministerial Updates on significant issues  
9. Any Other Business  
NB Items marked (*) are commercially sensitive and depending on the subject matter, might not be referred to in the top lines.

The following items were considered:

2 – 5.   Confirmation of Minutes and Matters Arising from the Minutes

Executive Council confirmed and signed off the minutes of meetings held on 18 November and 16 December 2025.

6.         Financial Services Regulation Policy, 2025 (ExCo Memo 01/2026)

Executive Council was asked to advise on the endorsement of the Policy which was approved by Executive Council in January 2025; the approval  of the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to be presented as Government business to the Legislative Council and the approval in principle of the Financial Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, to come into force following enactment of the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Executive Council noted that the Policy addresses significant shortcomings in the existing financial services framework and is designed to achieve four key objectives:

Members considered the consultation conducted and feedback received. Executive Council noted that the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) was content. The Executive Council approved the Financial Services Regulation Policy, 2025; the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to be presented as Government business to Legislative Council in March 2026 and approved in principle the associated Regulations.

7.         Land Registry Fees (ExCo Memo 02/2026)

Executive Council considered proposed increases to the Second Schedule of the Registered Land Rules, 1981, relating to land registration fees and services, with effect from 1 April 2026.

Members noted that demand for land registry services is consumer-led and that the proposed increases are expected to have minimal impact on the community. It was also noted that current fees have remained unchanged since 1981 and that the proposed increases reflect inflation only. Executive Council approved the changes in fees acknowledging also that a comprehensive review of all fees and charges will be undertaken in due course, including full cost recovery analysis.

8.           Ministerial Updates on significant issues

9.         Any Other Business

No matters were raised.

#StHelena #ExCo #Toplines

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The Minister for Health and Social Care, Martin Henry, and the Chief Medical Officer, Peter Moss, will depart St Helena on Saturday 31 January 2026 to undertake an official visit to Montserrat, returning to the island on Saturday, 14 February 2026.  The visit forms part of a reciprocal health systems exchange between the Governments of St Helena and Montserrat, supported and facilitated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Purpose of the visit

The central purpose of the visit is to deepen mutual understanding of how two small UK Overseas Territories with aid dependent health systems organise and govern health and public health services while recognising the different contexts in which they operate. Both St Helena and Montserrat have similar constitutional responsibilities for Health and Social Care and rely on a mix of on island primary and some secondary care, complemented by off-island referral arrangements for advance treatment.

The programme will focus on: 

Minister for Education, Skills and Employment, Andrew Turner, will be the point of contact in Minister Henry’s absence and can be contacted via email at andrew.turner@sainthelena.gov.sh.

Photo

Minister Martin Henry

Chief Medical Officer, Peter Moss

#StHelena #AltogetherHealthier

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