St. Helena has lost its only commercial flights after the island’s aviation regulator downgraded the airport from Category 6, citing fire safety concerns. Airlink (South Africa) operates a weekly service to the island from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, as well as a monthly service to neighbouring Ascension Island. While these flights will remain suspended “until at least 20 February [2026],” the airport did manage to secure Category 4 status, permitting small aircraft and medical evacuation flights. Airlink is scheduled to add a weekly seasonal service from Cape Town International between December 2026 and March 2027. The remote British overseas territory received its first commercial flight in October 2017.