UK and Argentina agree deal to double number of commercial flights to Falkland Islands

Stanley Harbour in the Falkland Islands
Stanley Harbour in the Falkland Islands Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph

A landmark agreement between the UK and Argentina will see the number of commercial flights to the Falkland Islands double.

The nations have agreed to the creation of a new flight linking the Falklands with South America, taking the total number of air links to and from the continent to two.  

The move represents a significant step in the continued thawing of relations between Argentina and the UK.

The new weekly flight will depart from Sao Paulo in Brazil and will stopover in Cordoba in Argentina once a month in each direction.

The new link, which will be provided by Latam Airlines, is the result of more than two years of negotiations between the UK and Argentinian governments.

The announcement comes just days before Theresa May, the Prime Minister, will travel to Argentina for the G20 summit in Buenos Aires.

Sir Alan Duncan, the Minister for the Americas, said the new flight showed the UK and Argentina could work together despite historical disagreements.

Sir Alan said: “The announcement of a new flight from South America to the Falkland Islands shows real progress, particularly ahead of the G20 in Argentina.

“This news highlights our closer relationship with Argentina and that, despite our differences on some areas; we can work together on issues that benefit all.”

The bid to bring about closer co-operation between the two countries was launched in September 2016 and there have been behind the scenes talks and regular contact to improve relations ever since.

It is hoped that the new air link will help to support the further economic development of the Falkland Islands, increase engagement with South America and also potentially boost tourism in the region.

The two nations have also agreed to hold annual bilateral talks when they will be able to discuss the possibility of further expansion of air links to and from the British Overseas Territory.

That could mean not only more flights for passengers but also more cargo and mail services between the Falkland Islands, Argentina and the rest of continental South America.

At the moment, there is only one weekly flight from South America to the Falkland Islands, departing every Saturday from Santiago in Chile, returning the same day.

That flight stops once a month in Rio Gallegos in Argentina.

There are currently more flights every week to the Falkland Islands from the UK than there are from South America.

The Ministry of Defence operates twice weekly links, departing on Sundays and Wednesdays, from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire which fly directly to the islands, refuelling in Ascension Island in the middle of the Atlantic.

Return flights leave the Falklands on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Despite being operated by the Ministry of Defence, civilian passengers can book seats on these flights.

Relations between Great Britain and Argentina have been frosty ever since the 1982 Falklands War in which 649 Argentine personnel and 255 British military personnel died.

The islands have remained a source of political tension between the two nations but it is hoped that developments such as the new air link will help to strengthen diplomatic and cultural lines of communication.

License this content