Veterans brand UK’s flagship carrier ‘disgraceful’ after entertainment systems display ‘Puerto Argentino’ instead of Stanley
British Airways has caused outrage after using the Argentinian name for the capital of the Falkland Islands on its in-flight entertainment systems in a move branded ‘disgraceful’ by war veterans.
The UK’s flagship carrier displayed ‘Puerto Argentino’ on passenger screens, with the British name ‘Stanley’ relegated to brackets underneath – despite the islands being firmly in British hands since 1833.
Veterans of the 1982 Falklands War have reacted with fury to the discovery, which comes as Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the British Overseas Territory.
The airline, which is owned by Spanish firm International Airlines Group, is now urgently investigating how the Argentine name came to be displayed prominently on its systems.
WAR HERO’S FURY
Former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Lord West, who won the Distinguished Service Cross during the conflict, led the criticism of the airline’s blunder.
“It’s disgraceful. The Falklands are a British overseas territory and 99.9 per cent of islanders want to stay British,” Lord West told The Sun.
“We have said very clearly there will be no discussions about sovereignty.”
The decorated veteran’s anger reflects the feelings of many who fought to defend the islands when Argentina invaded in 1982.
THATCHER’S LEGACY DISHONOURED
The controversy is particularly galling for veterans given that British troops were deployed to the South Atlantic on the orders of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to defend the islands’ British status.
The 74-day conflict saw 255 British servicemen, 649 Argentine military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders lose their lives before Argentina surrendered on June 14, 1982.
Since then, the islands have remained a British Overseas Territory, with islanders overwhelmingly voting to remain British in a 2013 referendum where 99.8% backed staying under UK sovereignty.
‘LUDICROUS AND DISRESPECTFUL’
Falklands veterans branded the fact that the British name was not given prominence as ‘ludicrous’ and ‘disrespectful’ to those who gave their lives defending the territory.
The use of ‘Puerto Argentino’ is particularly offensive to many islanders, as it was the name imposed by Argentine forces during their illegal occupation in 1982.
During the occupation, the Argentine military renamed Stanley as Puerto Argentino, forcing the local radio station to use the Argentine name – something broadcaster Patrick Watts later described as deeply hurtful.
ARGENTINE CLAIMS CONTINUE
Argentina has never given up its claim to what it calls Las Malvinas, maintaining that the islands rightfully belong to them despite British sovereignty dating back nearly 200 years.
The South American nation continues to press its claim in international forums and has attempted to economically isolate the islands by pressuring companies not to support their development.
Just this year, Argentine President Javier Milei marked the anniversary of the failed invasion by expressing hope that islanders might one day “choose” to be Argentine.
BA’S SPANISH CONNECTION
Critics have pointed out that British Airways is now owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), a Spanish company that also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling.
IAG was formed in 2011 when British Airways merged with Spanish carrier Iberia, leading to concerns about foreign influence over Britain’s flag carrier.
The company’s Spanish leadership may explain how such a sensitive error could have occurred, though BA insists it is investigating urgently.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
A British Airways spokesperson said the airline was taking the matter seriously and had launched an immediate investigation.
“We are urgently investigating how this occurred and will take appropriate action to ensure it does not happen again,” the airline said.
The carrier stressed its commitment to respecting the sovereignty of all British Overseas Territories.
COLONIAL HISTORY
The Falkland Islands have been under British administration since 1833, when the Royal Navy expelled an Argentine garrison that had been established just months earlier.
Britain first claimed the uninhabited islands in 1765, though various European powers disputed control over the following decades.
The islands’ population today consists of around 3,500 people, predominantly of British descent, who overwhelmingly wish to remain British citizens.
MILITARY PRESENCE
Since the 1982 conflict, Britain has maintained a significant military presence on the islands, including RAF Mount Pleasant and a garrison of around 1,200 personnel.
Four RAF Typhoon jets provide air defence, while Royal Navy vessels regularly patrol the surrounding waters to deter any future Argentine aggression.
The UK has spent billions on defending the islands since 1982, underlining its commitment to protecting the islanders’ right to self-determination.
NEVER AGAIN
For the veterans who fought in the South Atlantic, any suggestion of accommodating Argentine sensitivities over the islands’ status remains unacceptable.
Many lost close friends in the conflict, fighting in brutal conditions to liberate the islands from occupation.
The British Airways blunder serves as a reminder that vigilance is still required to protect the legacy of those who gave their lives for the Falklands.
As one veteran put it: “We didn’t fight and see our mates die just so a British company could use Argentine propaganda names 40 years later.
