Good to see that NOTAMS have appeared concerning restricted weights for various aircraft types as well as revised PCN data for the runway at ASI.
The initial proposal from Atlantic Star which involved TUI Netherlands seemed on face value at least, to be a great solution since the airframe would only incur costs for when it would be used on the trip to and from HLE, which would be a far cry from keeping an Avro RJ based on the island. This is what Atlantic Star seemed to have hinted at in its revised proposal. The costs involved would be eye watering and the logistics involved would be very complex with keeping the aircraft based on the island, along with the planned low level of utilisation. Perhaps this is where Atlantic Star met its downfall?
The Avro RJ/BAe 146 family is the only airliner type to have demonstrated the flexibility to cope with the combination of windshear on 20 and the predominate tailwind which avoids the windshear on 02. However the aircraft lacks the range to go anywhere comfortably non-stop which is of interest to the Saints other than ASI.
A long term solution to air transport for St. Helena may require generous government funding for years to come and especially so when considering the low levels of income on the island relative to the planned cost of tickets. Perhaps future links to only ASI and CPT are the future?