British Antarctic scientists among those stranded as crumbling Ascension Island runway closed to big aircraft – Telegraph.co.uk

A statement on the RAF Brize Norton website said officials would be limiting the number of non-essential population there due to capacity issues.

St Helena, by contrast has a population of around 4,500, whose leaders have been desperately trying to boost the islands economy by improving transport links.

Because its airstrip can only accommodate short-haul aircraft, islanders rely on flights to RAF Ascension in order to reach the UK, a link which has now been severed.

For this to happen on the back of the situation with the St Helena runway is a farce, bordering on tragedy, said Lord Foulkes.

The problems with RMS St Helena make it even worse.

An MOD spokesman said: As part of on-going monitoring of the state of repair of the Ascension Island runway, we have made the decision to not fly the Voyager aircraft to Ascension for our routine flight from 14 Apr 2017 for safety reasons.

We will ensure the continuation of military support to the Falkland Islands through an alternative hub, and are working with the Foreign Office to put temporary measures in place to support the people who live and work on Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands.

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British Antarctic scientists among those stranded as crumbling Ascension Island runway closed to big aircraft - Telegraph.co.uk