Just thinking hypothetically, somewhat outside the box and a few years hence - working on the assumption that the new airport won't be capable of taking large aircraft. London to St Helena is approx 4000 NM whereas from the Canaries its 2,650 NM. Would this not put them within range for some of the smaller equipment the European carriers have available?
Demand obviously depends on the tourism product available in St Helena, but for the UK/German market a change of planes in Tenerife or Gran Canaria would be 5 hours less than a return trip via Jo'burg assuming equal stopover time, and I dare say a little more desirable.
Not talking down the Johannesburg route here, I'm floating an option for a future route north.
Last edited by sunday8pm; 30th Mar 2015 at 15:55.