First commercial flight to Antarctica a success
Loftleidir Icelandic, an air carrier from Iceland, has managed a world first, successfully landing a commercial Boeing 757 passenger plane in Antarctica at Union Glacier.
Antarctica is one of the few places in the world that remains off limits for many commercial pilots, and while it is serviced by the occasional military or cargo plane, this is the first time that a commercial aircraft has conducted a successful landing on a blue ice runway.
The airline has been planning the test flight, though a partnership with Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE), for months as a means of proving commercial aircraft could successfully land on the blue ice surface.
And while it may be a while before we see regular flights to Antarctica, this flight could help make it significantly easier to access. At the moment ALE takes about 500 visitors to Antarctica each season on small group experiences, a number it is hoping to expand significantly.
In a statement, ALE said, “The Boeing 757-200 ER, fitted with 62 business class seats, will enhance passenger comfort yet maintain the safety of ALE’s activities and aircraft resources.”
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