Permit for a flight connecting Sao Paulo (Brazil) with Falkland Islandsit was withdrawn by the national governmentbefore The UK refused to allow a direct flight from the mainland towards them.
The decision was reported on Tuesday itself and indicates the weekly service that was in effect, which included a stop in Cordoba Province. It was previously published in the Official Gazette by virtue of Decree 112/2023.
The UK does not want a continental flight connecting it to the Falkland Islands
The State Department itself explained the motives for this decision: This measure was taken “after several initiatives were presented to the United Kingdom to achieve greater connectivity between the Argentine mainland and the Malvinas Islands. but, The British government has prevented any real and tangible progress from being achieved In the sense of allowing a direct flight from the mainland to the islands.”
In any case, Alberto Fernandez’s administration has confirmed that it aspires to resume talks on the issue.
The service that was cut was from the airline TAMIt was approved by the UK itself in 2018.
It should be noted that this service was not running continuously. It came into force in November 2019, and was unilaterally suspended by the UK, in March 2020, due to Covid-19 health restrictions. Another flight from Punta Arenas, in Chile, to the Malvinas Islands, was also suspended for the same period.
In any case, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that, as of October 2020, it had already proposed to the European country’s government the start of bilateral talks in order to address the matter: “The subject was discussed in successive bilateral meetings and also through an exchange of letters.”they communicated.
Then they added: “In December 2021, the Argentine government, in order to alleviate the situation of separation from the Malvinas Islands, submitted a proposal to the United Kingdom for two humanitarian flights with the flag line from the Argentine mainland. The United Kingdom rejected such a proposal. In the face of this scenario and after extensive efforts Efforts made by the Argentine government, the regular flight from Punta Arenas to the Malvinas Islands, with a monthly stopover in Rio Gallegos, was re-established in July 2022.
In April 2022, a memorandum was sent to the UK highlighting the numerous attempts by the Argentine government to reach an understanding that would include regular direct flight from the Argentine mainland. The decision to suspend the aforementioned regular service until the UK agrees to consider the aforementioned regular direct flight“.
“However, The Argentine government has maintained an interest in continuing discussions on air services. In this context, he suggested holding a new meeting to continue talking about it. Finally, it was agreed that a meeting would take place during November 2022, which was postponed at his request due to internal problems in the United Kingdom.
Finally, they explained: “The Argentine government reiterates its desire to resume sovereignty negotiations and to address a comprehensive agenda of issues involving greater continuity between the Malvinas Islands and the rest of the Argentine territory.”