13 January 2021

Falkland Islands enhance airport transportation measures

In line with its commitment to regularly review the measures in place to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19 in the Falkland Islands, ExCo has determined new protocols for airport government-designated inbound public transport, operated by Penguin Travel.

Firstly, on arrival at the airport, passengers will be required to put on a clean set of gloves and a surgical mask, so that they do not board their transport wearing any PPE that was in use on the plane. Drivers will be required to wear full PPE – namely gloves, a mask and a protective suit – and they will be trained in how to put on and remove this equipment safely by colleagues at KEMH.

FIG has also decided that the transport service can no longer use minibus vehicles, only town buses, as these enable better social distancing and limit the proximity of drivers to passengers. However, this also means that the range of vehicles that Penguin Travel can operate are limited. Where buses cannot reach the few narrow roads in Stanley, passengers will be dropped off as close to their accommodation as possible and they will be required to wear their mask and gloves until they are safely inside their property. People may still leave empty vehicles at MPC for passengers, but please be aware that there is limited capacity.

The buses have been fitted with customised Perspex screens to shield the drivers, who will remain on the bus at all times, behind the screens. Passengers will be assigned designated seats on the coach and a passenger list will be fixed to the window. This will support track and trace efforts, should any of the passengers test positive via the quarantine surveillance swabbing regime.

In the event of a positive test result, the driver of the coach will be informed and will undergo a risk assessment, by a medical officer. Should this assessment determine that the driver should self-isolate they will be directed to do this. This will be a legal requirement. As always, Covid-19 swab tests are also available to anyone who wishes to receive one for peace of mind.

These enhanced measures are designed to improve protection for drivers and also to support and ensure that the transport service is sustainable. The new measures have now come into force and the Falkland Islands Government has liaised with FIGO to ensure that all necessary information is provided to passengers before they board future flights.