18 February 2021
New Covid-19 testing requirements on travelling south to the Falkland Islands
From 1 March 2021, passengers travelling south from the UK to the Falkland Islands on the South Atlantic Airbridge, will be required to provide evidence of a negative PCR Covid-19 test, that is dated no more than five days prior to travel.
This is a UK Strategic Command requirement, in order to be able to use Dakar as a weather or technical diversion, as the Republic of Senegal requires that everyone travelling into the country over two years of age, must now have evidence of a negative PCR Covid-19 test.
This means that travellers on the inbound airbridge currently scheduled to depart the UK on 28 February 2021 will require evidence of a negative PCR Covid-19 test in order to board the flight. Passengers should provide their test result to check-in staff on arrival at Brize Norton.
Passengers who test positive or receive an inclusive test result for Covid-19 will not be authorised to travel and for this reason it is advised that they do not relinquish their UK accommodation until they have evidence of a negative test result. In this event, a full refund will be issued and passengers will be rebooked on to an alternative, available civilian flight.
The Falkland Islands Government has put together a series of ‘questions and answers’ which explain the new requirement and provides information on UK options for booking tests, as well as additional guidance on how the new requirement. You can find these questions and answers by visiting https://www.fig.gov.fk/covid-19/travel/southbound
Passengers travelling southbound will still be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine in suitable accommodation on arrival, as this is still a legal requirement in the Falkland Islands.
Passengers travelling northbound will still be required to follow the UK government testing requirements for entering England, which include a 10-day quarantine period and the need to book and pay for a ‘travel and test’ package in order to undertake two Covid-19 tests during that quarantine period. Further information is available from the UK government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england