Qantas to restart joy flights over Antarctica

Scenic view from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner window, an extra set of sanitizing wipes and a map is offered for those embarking on a 12-hour journey over the frozen continent.

Tour company Antarctica Flights is conducting the initiative, using Qantas’ Dreamliners originally intended for direct connection between Australia and the United Kingdom, but grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The flight costs between 1,199 and 7,999 AUS (USD 856-5709) depending on the class, with the promotional material noticing that many Economy and even some Business passengers will have their view of the scenery partially blocked by the wing. 

Adding to that, half of the passengers will spend half of their journey sitting in a window seat or next to one, exchanging it mid-flight with the ones who have been sitting further away. The cheapest option, wittily called “The Explorer Economy Class”, will have no access to the window through the flight. Airline encourages passengers to stand in the aisles and common areas to catch a glimpse through the window.

See also - ALL NEWS FOR THE DAY

Seven such flights will be organized between November 2020 and February 2021, including the one on New Year’s Eve, giving passengers a chance to celebrate the midnight mid-flight.

It is the third year Antarctic flights are conducted. Previously, Qantas’ Boeing 747s were used, the same ones that were retired in spectacular fashion in July 2020, a year before the previously intended date.