Hi Fly A340 Lands on Antarctica for First Time

A Hi Fly Airbus A340-300 flew from Cape Town to Antarctica and back in one day on 2nd November 2021. The 18-year-old Airbus A340-300 with the registration code 9H-SOL made the first-ever landing in Antarctica on a blue glacial ice runway. The plane landed on Wolf’s Fang Runway, which is approximately 3,000 meters in length.

The excursion took slightly over five hours in each direction and covered a distance of nearly 2,500 miles in each direction. The plane only stayed in Antarctica for three hours before returning, so while it was a long day for the crew, it was a smooth operation that went off without a hitch.

The flight was intended to transport tourists, researchers, and crucial supplies to Antarctica. Given the necessity to transport people and supplies to and from Antarctica, charter flights to the continent are common.

The “captain’s log,” which is essentially a trip report from the skipper regarding this journey, has been released by Hi Fly. Carlos Mirpuri, who is also Hi Fly’s VP, was the flight’s captain.