Due to essential repair work to the runway at RAF Brize Norton, the South Atlantic Airbridge connecting with the Falkland Islands will temporarily fly into, and out of East Midlands Airport (EMA). The final SAA flight into RAF Brize Norton prior to work commencing is scheduled to be the northbound service TOW 2233 due to depart MPC on Saturday 12 Aug. The following TOW 2230 service on Monday 14 Aug will depart from East Midlands Airport.
An impressive storm struck the southern tip of the South American continent during last weekend and at the start of this week. Three cities in the region linked by the cruise tourism industry, air transport, and other issues suffered the consequences of the battering of wind, snow storms, flying debris, and the closure of roads, ports, and airports.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced its Falkland Islands foreign travel advice (22 May), with updated information on the South Atlantic Airbridge.
Falkland Islands' Executive Council, ExCo, approved on Thursday a further change to quarantine measures for people travelling to the Falkland Islands by air with the introduction of a new 5-day‘ test to release’ option. This initiative was identified during the latest six-week review of quarantine arrangements, in line with the requirements of the Infectious Diseases Control Regulations 2020, as well as in light of the Covid-19 vaccination status of the community.
A period of increased vigilance will begin in the Falkland Islands after one positive case of Covid-19 was confirmed. Falklands' lawmaker MLA Leona Roberts delivered the news at a Tuesday afternoon press conference, joined by Chief Medical Officer Dr Rebecca Edwards and Chief Executive Barry Rowland.
Quarantine requirements both in the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands, combined with global restrictions in air travel, have led to changes to the South Atlantic Airbridge scheduling, it was announced by the Islands' government.
Specifically, civilian passengers can only travel Southbound on every third flight.
The Falkland Islands currently have an only air link which is the air bridge with the United Kingdom twice a week, since the commercial flights from Chile and Brazil managed by Latam, have been suspended at least until the end of July.
The contract to repair the 3,000-meter runway at RAF Ascension Island has yet to be awarded, and work may not be complete until 2022. It has been partially closed since April 2017. This means the Falkland Islands/Brize Norton airbridge will continue to operate through Cape Verde.
Falkland Islands lawmaker, MLA Mike Summers apologized on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) for the disruption that the flight diversion from Ascension Island had caused, but said he knew they were working hard to ensure proper arrangements were in place for the continuation of the air bridge with the UK.