The 2025 season, which runs from November to February 2026, marks the fifth anniversary of the historic landing of the first Airbus A340 in Antarctica, operated by Hi Fly in 2021. Since then, the airline has maintained a constant presence in one of the planet’s most extreme environments.
Season’s Inaugural Flight: Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang
The Airbus A340-300, registration 9H-SUN, was tasked with opening the season with a flight for client White Desert Antarctica. The route connected Cape Town, South Africa, with the Wolf’s Fang runway, covering 2,500 nautical miles each way, with a duration of just over five hours per leg.
Once again at the controls was Captain Carlos Mirpuri, Vice President of Hi Fly, who led an experienced crew on this emblematic mission. The operation reaffirms the company’s commitment to the excellence, precision, and spirit of adventure that characterize its forays into the white continent.
On-the-Ground Commemoration: Five Years of Achievements
During this mission, a special moment was celebrated on the runway with the presentation of a commemorative plaque that read: “Celebrating 5 Years in Antarctica.” This gesture symbolizes half a decade of successful operations in an environment where commercial aviation faces unique challenges.
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The A340: Sky Giant on Icy Lands
Hi Fly’s A340 continues to be the largest commercial aircraft to operate in Antarctica, a distinction that underscores the airline’s technical capability and innovative vision. For this mission, the aircraft carried 81 tons of fuel and 15 tons of payload, demonstrating its versatility in extreme conditions.
Carlos Mirpuri shared an excerpt from his logbook, highlighting the importance of this aircraft and teamwork: “Missions like this one are a test of its capabilities. It has served us well and provided us with many joyful moments. The 9H-SUN is the last A340 in our fleet and will soon be replaced by an equally capable, yet more efficient aircraft.”
The landing took place at 1 a.m. local time, with the sun barely touching the horizon and southeasterly katabatic winds of up to 25 knots, which made the -16°C feel even more intense. The ground turnaround time was 1 hour and 45 minutes, reflecting the preparation of the ground team at Wolf’s Fang.
The flight to Antarctica lasted 5 hours and 45 minutes, while the return flight took exactly 5 hours. Mirpuri also highlighted the fundamental role of all teams involved.
A Strategic Alliance with White Desert
Hi Fly gave special thanks to the White Desert team for their continued collaboration, recognizing their essential role in the viability of these operations. The relationship between the two organizations has been key to carrying out pioneering flights to one of the most remote destinations on the planet.
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