Argentine media is reporting that Buenos Aires informed the UK is not willing to renew the 2019 political agreement which enabled the establishment of a second air link between the Falkland Islands and the continent (Brazil), but is prepared to discuss a new air link under different conditions.
Commercial air links between Chile and Brazil and the Falkland Islands are expected to resume next July according to Aviacionline, an air industry site that revealed it obtained the information through Cirium which specializes in aviation and travel data and analytics.
The Falkland Islands Government can confirm that commercial air links with both Chile and Brazil will remain suspended for a further three months until 29 June 2021.
LATAM Airlines have confirmed to the Falkland Islands government that the Punta Arenas-Santiago route will remain suspended until at least 2 January 2021, and the situation will be reviewed near that date.
The Falkland Islands government, FIG, which continues to review connetivity, was informed by LATAM that the weekly air link with Chile, via the Punta Arenas-Santiago route will remain suspended until at least 7 November 2020, and the situation will be reviewed near that date.
Authorities of Cape Verde have closed all sea borders and have restricted flights from the UK, US, Canada and a number of other European countries from 18 March. As of 18 March, only a restricted number of flights are allowed into the country to enable visitors to return home. This follows confirmation of a Covid 19 case in the former Portuguese colony.
The Argentine government made official the authorization for a second weekly flight between the South American continent and the Falklands Islands, this time to Sao Paulo, Brazil with a stopover once a month, on both ways in the city of Cordoba. This means all is ready for the inauguration.
The challenging complexity and uncertain consequences of Brexit, progress in understandings with Argentina, including the second weekly air link to Sao Paulo, a sound economy with financial stability and the strong commitment of the Falkland Islands population with representative democracy, were outlined by Governor Nigel James Phillips, CBE in his annual address to the elected Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands Government Air Service has received funding approval from the Executive Council and the Standing Finance Committee for a new aircraft to replace Islander VP-FBM which incurred substantial structural damage while landing at Beaver Island in June.
Argentina and the UK have agreed that the second commercial air link between the Falkland Islands and South America, with a stopover at Cordoba, Argentina, will begin operational next October in coincidence with the South Atlantic summer tourist season, according to Martin Dinatale, an Argentine journalist who specializes in diplomatic affairs.