Norse Atlantic Airways has completed its second charter mission to Troll Airfield, one year after becoming the first airline to land a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Antarctica’s blue ice runway.
Norse Atlantic’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with the registration LN-FNC and named ‘Everglades’, landed in Antarctica on November 15, 2024, at 10:55 local time, according to the airline’s press release. The aircraft was carrying 10.5 tons of research equipment and scientists for the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact.
“Returning to Antarctica with our Dreamliner reaffirms Norse Atlantic’s ability to handle complex logistical operations,” said Mette Birkedahl, Director of Charter and ACMI at Norse Atlantic Airways. “We’re proud to demonstrate the capabilities and efficiency of our aircraft and operational excellence of the Norse Atlantic charter team.”
The journey followed the Oslo-Cape Town-Troll Airfield-Cape Town-Oslo route. This included a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, just like the airline’s first historic landing in 2023, before the final Antarctic leg, the press release continued.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is designed for long-distance flights and can travel up to 15,400 kilometers (around 9,500 miles).
“Landing such a large aircraft for the second time is an important milestone for us in Antarctica,” said John Guldahl, Director of Operations and Logistics at the Norwegian Polar Institute. “It opens up new opportunities for logistics at Troll, as we can transport both more cargo and more people in the same flight, which will also help strengthen Norwegian research in Antarctica.”
Norse Atlantic is set to complete a total of four charters to Antarctica dedicated to support scientific research.