A link from the UK to the South Atlantic island, which is just under five hours’ flying time from Johannesburg, is being planned, while Comair, a British Airways franchise, has taken delivery of a new aircraft to fly to the volcanic island from South Africa.

St Helena’s airport was due to open in February, but navigation aids have had to be relocated and the opening has been pushed back several months. Building of the airport will end centuries of isolation at the British Overseas Territory, which until now has been reached only by a five-day voyage from Cape Town on one of the last remaining Royal Mail ships.

There are plans by a start-up airline, Atlantic Star Airways, to launch flights from Gatwick this summer. Two British Airways’ pilots are behind Atlantic Star, which has pencilled in a start in late May in partnership with TUIfly. Flights will operate via Gambia on both legs of the journey.

Meanwhile, Comair has taken delivery of a new Boeing 737-800 in BA colours to be used on the Johannesburg-St Helena route. It will carry around 120 passengers with a business class option. Flights are sold through the normal BA channels.