Atlantic Star Airlines (London) has issued this statement:

Atlantic Star will partner with TUIfly to deliver its 2016 charter flight program between the UK and St. Helena. TUI Group is Europe’s largest travel company and holds a European Air Safety Agency Air Operators Certificate, including the necessary Extended Twin Operations validation necessary to operate to St. Helena.

TUIfly will operate a Boeing 737-800 on the route from London Gatwick to St. Helena, via a short fuel stop in Banjul, Gambia. The two-class configuration will offer Economy and Economy Plus seating options.

The first dates for travel coincide with the Easter school holidays. They will of course be dependent on the airport at St. Helena being opened on schedule in February 2016.

Further flights are planned, timed to coincide with school holidays later in 2016. Atlantic Star will not be able to confirm the dates or release tickets for sale on these services until much nearer the time.

The first service will leave London Gatwick in the late evening of Sunday, March 20, 2016, arriving mid-morning in St. Helena on Monday, March 21, 2016. The aircraft will then leave St. Helena around lunchtime, to arrive back in London Gatwick late the same night.

The second service will operate to a similar schedule, leaving London Gatwick on Sunday, April 3, 2016 to arrive in St. Helena on April 4, 2016, departing St. Helena the same day to arrive at London Gatwick late that night.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. TUIfly’s (TUIfly.com) (Germany) ex-Airberlin Boeing 737-86J WL D-ABKI (msn 37748) arrives at EuroAirport.

TUIfly aircraft slide show: