Falkland Islanders that travelled on the South Atlantic air-bridge (Brize Norton-MPA and MPA-Brize Norton) on 16 and 18 April will be refunded since a non civilian-registered aircraft was involved, but will have to pay a £150 booking fee in order to support the government's policy of subsidizing air-bridge fares.
The Argentine radical group ‘Resistencia Malvinas’ protested on Thursday midday before the Lan Chile offices in downtown Buenos Aires to demand the end of the weekly air link between Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands. The group led by Toni Lopez and with drums banging displayed banners, distributed pamphlets and burnt Union Jacks.
The UK expects Argentina to honour its commitments under the 1999 agreement allowing for flights to the Falkland Islands from Chile and insisted that any discussions on flights were a matter for the Falkland Islands government.
The British government confirmed that Prince William begins this Wednesday his six week deployment in the disputed Falkland Islands as a helicopter pilot when he flies out from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire tonight.
Air Titan is to take up the airbridge flight as from this weekend as Air Seychelles makes its last journey from Brize Norton to the Falkland Islands under the current contract with the Ministry of Defence.
As of this month RAF Lyneham's Hercules fleet has a new base at RAF Brize Norton which is becoming critically important as an RAF logistics support hub including the air bridge with the Falkland Islands.
Three Royal Air Force Typhoons, costing £125million each, and similar to those stationed in the Falkland Islands are being cannibalized at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to cover a desperate shortage of parts and keep warplanes flying over Libya reported the Daily Mail on Thursday.
The next UK/Falkland Islands airbridge flight remains uncertain, following the recent disruption caused by the volcanic eruption in Chile it was reported by the Falklands radio station.
The impact of the volcanic ash is straining the Falkland Islands air links with the United Kingdom forcing the rationing of seats for northbound passengers because of the repeated cancelling of the airbridge with Brize Norton.