MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' second weekly commercial air link talks take off, and should crystallize by next October
MLA Dr Barry Elsby said it was a very positive step forward for the Falklands, since “the additional flight will help us to improve our links with the world at large” 
Currently there is a weekly LATAM flight to and from Chile, which includes a monthly stop in Argentina, once in each direction The United Kingdom and Argentina, following on the September 2016 joint communiqué to establish additional air links with the Falkland Islands, jointly announced on Friday that third country airlines interested in such operations will be contacted. It is expected that by the end of February the commercial process will be initiated, led by the Falkland Islands, and sometime next October the new weekly air link, with a monthly call in Argentina, will become operational.
The February 16 release from the Falkland Islands government reads as follows:
“Today, UK embassies in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have received a letter jointly issued by the UK and Argentina Governments, requesting assistance in contacting airlines in their respective countries, to invite them to communicate their interest in establishing a new weekly scheduled air service to and from the Falkland Islands.
”Once these responses are received at the end of February, a commercial process will be initiated that will be led by the Falkland Islands. This will be managed in stages to evaluate viable proposals from interested airlines and undertake negotiations, with the objective of securing one additional flight per week, including a monthly stop in Argentina, once in each direction, before the end of 2018. This will complement the existing weekly LATAM flight to and from Chile.
“Speaking of the announcement, MLA Dr Barry Elsby, portfolio lead for Development and Commercial Services, said: “This is a very positive step forward for the Falkland Islands; we’ve long said that our economic development has been constrained by our isolation, and this additional flight will help us to improve our links with the world at large. It will give local people a more affordable and reliable way to travel with increased flexibility and more choice, as well as support our export and tourism businesses to become more resilient through enhanced international connections.”
”Barry Rowland, Chief Executive, added: “This additional air link will unlock the potential for Falkland Island businesses to flourish and, in turn, bring about wider economic and social benefits for our local population. The commercial process will be carefully managed by the Falkland Islands, together with our appointed specialist contractors ‘Aviation Economics’. This is an exciting time and we are looking forward to exploring the opportunities to work with new and existing partners to improve the experience of everyone travelling to this beautiful part of the world by air.”
“It is hoped that the final contract negotiations will be completed over the winter months, with the new air link due to become operational in October 2018”.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThink, happy to be your Patagonian neighbour fella as nobody can deny we have a lot in common. But I sure as hell aint no Squatter - family have been here in these Islands since 1845 - how long has yours been in Argentina? I am first and foremost an Islander - and we do not have to do what London says - those days died a few decades ago.
Feb 17th, 2018 - 05:48 pm +10I can't see the UK troops withdrawing regardless of change in status, unless the Islanders explicitly ask them to go.
Feb 17th, 2018 - 11:21 pm +10DT
“@Islander1
Those veterans won't live forever, and no one under 40 now can possibly remember the war. Do you have a plan for when they're gone?”
Yet another example that the Demon Tree identity exists only to serve Think /Voice.
A 'facilitator', he raises questions and disputes statements of pro-Falklands/ pro-UK sources and posters, for Think and Voice to comment upon.
A common dramatic device.
Also,
- now suddenly conversant in Spanish and posting and commenting on Spanish-only links.
- seems to possess key words, dates, and subject titles, database, to retrieve specific statements and controversies over several years.
- despite only coming to MP relatively recently, seems to possess an extensive knowledge of Argie gov. history, and troll 'talking points'.
This is not the behaviour of casual posters or curious interested readers.
He is a far cry from the “gosh shucks, I didn't know that” naive-questing persona he presented when he arrived here.
From a once occasional poster, he has evolved to be omni-present on every subject, just as the discredited “Voice” identity dropped off the map.
Certainly, this is a better transition from Voice to DT, than the previous Commander DoD to Voice changeover.
Have a nice day, y'all
Still failing to understand the situation Think? A quote from MLA Leona Roberts last night = “... nothing has bee decided or agreed and will not be without our say-so.”
Feb 17th, 2018 - 02:15 pm +8Another from MLA Mike Pollard = “... a second flight stopping in BA is not something I will support. I can't speak for the other seven but I'm pretty sure they all agree.”
If you know where to look, there is a lively debate taking place in the Falklands as I write. What appears to be clear is that the FIG have the final decision. Still don't know your organ grinders from your monkey's old man? Seems not.
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