Falklands : Government working to ease pressure on Airbridge flights
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 01.05.2010 (Article Archived on 15.05.2010)

The Falkland Islands Government is working hard to ease the pressure on the military Airbridge flights operating to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Government working to ease pressure on Airbridge flights

The Falkland Islands Government is working hard to ease the pressure on the military Airbridge flights operating to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.  After the reopening of UK air space, the first Northbound airbridge flight since the suspension of flying left Mount Pleasant airport on the morning of Wednesday 21^st April. This flight carried 29 civilian passengers.

The next Northbound airbridge flight is due to depart on Saturday 24^th April carrying 29 civilian passengers.  The Government has had to prioritise the allocation of seats, since the number of seats made available by the Ministry of Defence to civilian passengers is significantly smaller than the number of persons originally intending to travel on the Airbridge.  Priority has been given to medical emergencies, children and students returning to the UK for education, oil workers who have been rostered off the oil rig, and other urgent situations that the Government has been made aware of.

Although the normal twice weekly flight schedule will resume as of Tuesday 27^th April, it is likely to take some time to clear the backlog of passengers.  Passengers are being encouraged by the Government to re-consider their arrangements including using the LAN flight to Chile. The Ministry of Defence have stated that they will provide a re-fund to passengers who cancel and can show that their travel plans had been seriously disrupted to the point there is no point in travelling (e.g. missed sailings, etc).

Chief Executive Tim Thorogood said that the Government will continue to prioritise the allocation of seats on Airbridge flights until the backlog can be cleared. In parallel, discussions are also being held with the Ministry of Defence with a view to making available additional seats and / or scheduling additional flights. Up to this point the Ministry of Defence have not been willing to provide more than 29 civilian seats per flight.

All passengers who have been allocated flights on Saturday 24^th and Tuesday 27^th April have been informed.  The unavoidable inconvenience to other passengers whose departure will be delayed to Friday 30^th April or beyond is much regretted.  The Falkland Islands Government would like to thank members of the Falkland Islands community for their continued cooperation and patience in dealing with this situation.

Office of the Legislative Assembly Gilbert House, Stanley 23 April 2010

For more information please contact Alison Inglis, Media Liaison Office, Falkland Islands Government at tel. +500 27451 or  Media2@sec.gov.fk.  Photography and Interviews are available on request.

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