AIRLINK OVER THE ATLANTIC

Airlink has won the bid to operate flights between South Africa and St Helena in the middle of the South Atlantic.

While the formal agreement is still pending, with fares and schedules unclear, Airlink recently proved the ability of its new Embraer E-190 aircraft to land and take off without difficulty from the island’s airport.

Comair won the first tender to operate flights to the island but withdrew after test flights with a Boeing 737 revealed wind shear and turbulence issues on the main approach. Meanwhile, the aging mail ship RMS St Helena will plod on until 2018. FLYAFRICA TO TAKE OFF … AGAIN Low-cost carrier Flyafrica Zimbabwe plans to resume flights within the next two weeks, starting with daily return trips in the “Zimbabwe Triangle” — Harare to Victoria Falls to Bulawayo.

Following an R85-million cash injection, the airline has acquired two B737-700s and opened offices at Harare International Airport.

Future routes include daily returns from Harare to Joburg and returns from Bulawayo to Joburg three times a week once the airline’s Foreign Operators Permit is renewed in mid-July, Travel Buyer says. DISCOUNT FARES AND FREE VISAS FROM EMIRATES Emirates is currently offering travellers cheaper fares in economy and business class on flights out of Durban, Joburg and Cape Town as well as a free 30-day visa for the United Arab Emirates (currently R1 370 through dubaivisa.net).

The offer also includes extra baggage allowances and a “My Emirates Pass”, which can be used for discounts and on various exclusive offers in Dubai. WHERE LOST BAGS GO TO DIE If you’ve ever had your baggage go missing in flight, you’ll appreciate the urge that makes people head down to the Unclaimed Baggage Centre in Scottsboro, Alabama, the only facility in the US that buys lost luggage and sells the contents. Every year more than 800 000 people go to rummage among the 7 000 items the centre’s workers unpack daily. According to Condé Nast Traveler, previous treasures have included Jimmy Choo shoes, Rolex watches, Marc Jacobs purses, electric guitars, full sets of golf clubs, wedding dresses and $10 000 engagement rings (deliberate?), along with power tools, hair weaves, rice cookers and stethoscopes. Anything that can’t be sold is donated to charity. See unclaimedbaggage.com.