Argentina grants request made by Lufthansa for two charter flights to Malvinas Islands

Lufthansa airlines duly filed an overflight and landing request with the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) and the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands to conduct two charter flights from Hamburg to the Malvinas Islands (the first one to take place on 1 February and the second one on 30 March). Ushuaia is designated as the alternative airport to the Malvinas Islands for both flights. The request states that the purpose of both flights is to carry scientists and staff to replace those currently at the “Neumayer III” German scientific station in Antarctica, and to replace the crew of the polar research vessel Polarstern. The German Embassy had requested permission from the Argentine Coastguard for the vessel to enter Puerto Argentino within the framework of Decree 256/2010. Lufthansa also informs that all those on board will spend 14 days in quarantine before the flight, and that during that time they will be subject to three PCR (COVID-19) tests, four in the case of the Lufthansa crew. Lufthansa’s request to the Argentine authorities is important in that it entails a recognition of the Malvinas Islands as part of the Argentine territory.