The long-awaited first scheduled airline service to the British overseas territory of St Helena has landed - and, true to the much-maligned airport's chequered history, it was late.
The UK taxpayer-funded development on the remote South Atlantic island welcomed its first 78 commercial airline passengers at just before 2pm on Saturday, approximately 45 minutes behind schedule, following their departure from South Africa.
St Helena Airport, built with £285 million of funding from the Department for International Development (Dfid), was due to open last year but the launch of commercial flights was delayed because of dangerous wind conditions.
Further trials were carried out in August and the airport was given the go-ahead to begin operations by South African aviation authorities.
Flights between St Helena - 1,200 miles off the west coast of Africa - and Johannesburg will take six hours and 15 minutes including a stop in Windhoek, Namibia.
Travel to and from the island has previously only been possible by ship, with RMS St Helena taking around six days to complete the journey from South Africa. Its final voyage on the route will take place in February.
UK officials hope the improved accessibility will boost tourism and help make the island self-sufficient. St Helena currently receives £52 million in aid from the UK each year.
The air link will also make it easier for islanders to access specialist medical care as well as education and employment opportunities.
A damning report by MPs published in December last year found that the airport project "unquestionably failed" the British taxpayer and the residents of the island.
MPs on the influential Public Accounts Committee said it was "staggering" that ministers and officials did not foresee the problem with wind.
The issue of wind shear on St Helena was noted by Charles Darwin on his voyage on the Beagle in 1836, and MPs challenged DfID about why it had commissioned an airport paid for by the British taxpayer without properly appreciating the danger of this effect.
Officials told the MPs that the department had commissioned a feasibility study by engineering consultancy Atkins and acted on its recommendations, as well as taking advice from the Met Office and aviation regulators.
St Helena governor Lisa Phillips said: "For St Helena, today is the start of a bright new future.
"We are determined to make sure that air services work to benefit all St Helenians and bring about a higher standard of living for those on the island.
"We are open for business and investment and we know tourists will marvel at the beauty of the island. We are happy to welcome our visitors to the 'secret of the South Atlantic'."