Argentina buoyed by Germany's Falklands travel request

LONDON

German airline Lufthansa has sought permission for two specialist flights to Falklands, according to the Argentine government.

"Lufthansa requested and obtained authorization from the Argentine Republic for two charter flights to the Malvinas Islands (Falklands)" said an Argentine government press release Thursday, adding that "it implies the recognition of the Malvinas Islands as part of Argentine territory."

The flights are set to carry a team of scientists from the German city of Hamburg to Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, before continuing their journey to Antarctica - where they will undertake climate change research.

Lufthansa said it requested permission for two flights as the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted flight paths with the previous route through Cape Town in South Africa having been suspended.

The two flights are set to depart on Feb. 1 and March 30th.

Argentina and the UK have endured a protracted disagreement concerning ownership of the Falklands, or the "Malvinas" as they are referred to by Argentina - who have claimed sovereignty over the British-administered Islands. Both nations entered into a brief war between in 1982.

The Argentine government said the German government also sought permission for a ship to dock in the capital of the Falkland Islands, Port Stanley.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry said that Lufthansa requested permission to fly over Argentina and to land flights in Ushuaia in Patagonia if they are unable to land on the Falklands Islands.

Lufthansa described the flight to the Falklands as “the longest passenger flight in the history of its company" in a press statement.

Over the last year Argentina has continued to push its claim for sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.