Please refresh the page and retry. T hey have long existed in a state of semi-exile as one of the most hard-to-reach outposts on the planet - far-flung fragments cast adrift in the choppy waters of the South Atlantic.
But as of today, the Falkland Islands will be a little easier to visit, thanks to the launch of a new flight to the archipelago's Mount Pleasant airport from Sao Paulo.
Although only scheduled to depart once a week, the connection will bring the Falklands "closer" to a wide range of cities in Europe.
Virgin Atlantic is due to begin a service between the same two airports in March The launch will create what will be the shortest route with a scheduled carrier between the UK and the fabled British Overseas Territory near the foot of South America. Travelling via Sao Paulo will shave around 1, miles off the journey - by negating the need to fly to South America's Pacific flank on the way.
However, while more regular and more direct than the LATAM flight, this twice-weekly service is predominantly for military personnel although fare-paying civilian passengers are also allowed to travel.
