For the first time ever an Airbus A340 has landed on an ice runway in Antarctica. Operated by Hi Fly, the jet flew from Cape Town in South Africa to the world's southernmost continent and back earlier this month, a total of 2500 nautical miles, or 4630km. Hi Fly is a "wet lease" specialist airline, which means it hires out planes, crew, maintenance and insurance. Cruise company Aurora Expeditions chartered a Hi Fly jet last year to get its stranded passengers home to Australia from Uruguay after the outbreak of COVID-19. While flights to Antarctica are not uncommon, this was the first by an A340.

Source: Stuff November 25, 2021 00:16 UTC