New seasonal Airbus A340-300 flights from Cape Town have civilized air travel to the Antarctic interior.
Many argue that Antarctica is the last unconquered frontier in civil aviation, and rightly so. The driest, highest and windiest continent on Earth is also the emptiest, coldest, most inhospitable, remotest and most vulnerable continent on Earth. .
A British polar pioneer and world record holder wants to prove that small-scale, high-end tourism businesses can be sustainably established in Antarctica. “When tourism is done responsibly and in small groups, the impact is incredibly low and positive,” said Patrick Woodhead, founder of Cape Town, South Africa-based travel agency White Desert. There's a possibility.”
The company is committed to taking sustainability to a new level from next season, starting in November, by using solar energy, sustainable fuels and producing its own green hydrogen in Antarctica. .
“We strongly believe that the customers we take to Antarctica, often CEOs of large companies and highly influential people, can raise awareness. When you get back, you'll really value what you experienced and you'll have a great opinion and passion about Antarctica. That's really important,” says Woodhead, 48. He holds world polar records, including being the fastest skier to fly over Greenland in just nine days in 2015 and becoming the fastest and youngest skier to reach the South Pole in 2002.
Luxe A340-300 flight
Remarkably, his new polar adventure is made possible by a 26-year-old wide-body Airbus A340-300 operated by European wet-lease specialist High Fly.
High Fly and White Desert have just completed their third season of weekly flights since landing the first four-engine airliner in Antarctica in November 2021.
Photo: Provided by Hi-Fly
During the Antarctic summer, from November to February, when the sun never sets, the 4,620-mile journey from Cape Town to Eternal Ice takes over five hours.
With around 15 round trips each season, the service is surprisingly reliable considering the uncertain flying conditions in the polar regions.
Photo: Provided by White Desert ©
“We've been pioneering this in partnership with White Desert. We're learning and improving every time we fly,” he said. says Adam Latsos, High Fly's captain, as he lowers the A340 onto the icy runway.
The 3,000-meter (9,842-foot) runway on deep blue ice is the only civilian airstrip in Antarctica. His single landing on the A340 will take the crew up to a week to prepare using Pisten Bree groomers, which are typically found at ski resorts.
Luxury accommodation in the Arctic
White Desert Airlines carries approximately 220 tourists each season, provides transport and logistics to support Antarctic research stations in eight countries, and transports a further 250 scientists and personnel from Cape Town.
Wide-body airliners are still rare in Antarctica, and are usually used only for special missions, such as transporting people and supplies to and from research stations.
North Atlantic Airlines recently landed its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica to supply Norway's Troll base, but these flights are one-offs and anyone willing to pay the high fares You can not use it.
Small-scale expedition tourism by air has been available for some time, with noisy Russian Ilyushin IL-76 transport planes still operating from Cape Town. But White Desert takes that experience to a whole new level.
Photo: Provided by Hi-Fly
The Highfly A340 is still equipped with the cabin of its previous owner, Emirates, including lie-flat seats in first and business class. The maximum number of passengers on this huge plane will never exceed his 70, so the cabin will never be crowded.
The operator operates two ultra-luxury lodges, the first of their kind in Antarctica. Each accommodates up to 12 guests and includes sleeping in designer lunar-like modules, fine dining, and wine.
Photo: Provided by White Desert ©
Of course, this isn't cheap. Weekly all-inclusive rates start at $68,500 per person, but anyone who joins for just one night and returns immediately will pay “just” $15,950.
once in a lifetime experience? yes
Expanding to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “It will change your life,” says Patrick Woodhead.
And it will be. Even for an overnight stay, he spends just over three hours on the ground.
Photo: Provided by White Desert ©
Rappelling down blue ice walls, marveling at the white eternities and strangely shaped mountains, and even entering underground ice caves inside glacier crevasses are sure to leave an unforgettable impression. can.
However, please be careful. It's easy to catch the polar virus, and as a result, you'll want to spend a whole week in this quirky icy wonderland instead of just a few hours.
