Getting to the Falkland islands is easier than you might think...
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The international airport is at Mount Pleasant (MPN) which is also home to the tri-service military base in the Falkland Islands. So whilst it offers basic services it is the gateway to the Falklands itinerary if you arrive by air. If you are arriving by sea, be it cruise ship or yacht, the likelihood is that you will start your itinerary in the capital, Stanley. |
Via ChileMany visitors choose to arrive via Chile which surprisingly lies only 1.5 hrs away if you are travelling to/from Punta Arenas, Chile – the gateway to Torres del Paine and Patagonia!
LATAM operates roundtrip weekly flights (Saturdays) from Santiago de Chile (SCL). These flights can also be boarded and disembarked in Punta Arenas (PUQ). On the second Saturday of each month the flight also stops in Rio Gallegos (RGL), Argentina on the way to the Falkland Islands. The flight returns via Rio Gallegos on the third Saturday of each month. 1st, 4th & 5th (if applicable) Saturday of month : Santiago – Punta Arenas – Falklands – Punta Arenas – Santiago 2nd Saturday of month : Santiago – Punta Arenas – Rio Gallegos – Falklands – Punta Arenas – Santiago 3rd Saturday of month : Santiago – Punta Arenas – Falklands – Rio Gallegos - Punta Arenas – Santiago This is a domestic flight Santiago – Punta Arenas – Santiago, and only becomes international for the legs Punta Arenas – Falkland Islands – Punta Arenas. Immigration & Custom formalities are therefore completed in Punta Arenas in both directions. The timings are different depending on the week, but very generally it departs Santiago very early morning, and arrives in the Falkland Islands early/mid afternoon. The return flight departs the Falklands mid afternoon and arrives in Santiago late evening. |
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From/Via UKThe second option for flights to the Falkland Islands is with Air Tanker who operate, under charter to the UK Ministry of Defence, two flights per week to the Islands. The 18-hour flight departs from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in the very early hours of Mondays and Thursday (check-in the previous evening), with arrival in the Falklands late afternoon on the same day.
Return flights from the Falklands depart mid-morning on Tuesdays and Fridays, with arrival in UK early morning the following day (Wednesdays and Saturdays). The flight stops on the mid-Atlantic Ascension Island in each direction for refuelling. Passengers have to disembark for approximately 2 hours but are not permitted to stop over on the Island. Flight enquiries and sales are handled by the Falkland Islands Government Office in London who can be contacted via: |
Please note that this flight does not operate in a similarly commercial way to other scheduled flights/airlines. Operational requirements can mean last-minute changes and weather delays are not uncommon. Passengers should ensure they do not have tight or unchangeable connections when connecting to/from these flights.
