Hi Fly Makes History: Airbus A330 Lands in Antarctica for First Time

Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly has etched its name into aviation history with the successful landing of an Airbus A330 in Antarctica, marking the first commercial deployment of the twin-engine aircraft on the continent’s remote runways. The historic flight occurred on December 1, 2025, when Hi Fly’s Airbus A330-302 (registration 9H-HFI) touched down safely on the blue-ice runway at Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica, piloted by Captain Carlos Mirpuri, Vice-Chairman of Hi Fly.

The achievement represents a significant milestone for polar aviation operations and comes just one month after Hi Fly celebrated five years of continuous Antarctic operations. The flight departed from Cape Town, South Africa, as part of the airline’s expanded partnership with White Desert for the 2025/2026 season.

“Landing in Antarctica is never routine,” Captain Mirpuri stated. “Every flight demands careful planning, exacting precision, and respect for the environment. Introducing the A330 to this remote runway highlights our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and the ongoing evolution of polar aviation.”

The A330-302 is equipped with General Electric engines and shares the same fuselage dimensions as Hi Fly’s Airbus A340 fleet, but operates with two engines instead of four. This twin-engine configuration provides comparable performance while delivering superior cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits—critical considerations for sustainable aviation operations in sensitive polar regions.

The successful A330 deployment was made possible through strategic infrastructure improvements at Wolf’s Fang Runway. Additional ground support equipment now enables reliable twin-engine operations, capabilities that were unavailable when Hi Fly initiated its Antarctic flight operations. The aircraft’s exceptional performance in extreme polar conditions proved instrumental to the mission’s success, demonstrating the A330’s reliability in one of Earth’s most unforgiving environments.

This breakthrough follows Hi Fly’s landmark 2021 achievement, when the airline became the first commercial carrier to successfully land an Airbus A340 in Antarctica. The progression from four-engine to twin-engine operations reflects the airline’s strategic evolution and operational maturity in polar aviation.

For the aerospace and aviation industries, Hi Fly’s accomplishment signals expanding possibilities for commercial polar operations. The successful A330 deployment validates twin-engine aircraft capabilities in extreme conditions while showcasing how operational innovation and environmental responsibility can coexist. As polar tourism and research operations continue growing, Hi Fly’s technical achievements establish new benchmarks for safety, efficiency, and sustainability in Antarctic aviation.

The airline’s continued partnership with White Desert positions Hi Fly as a leader in specialized polar aviation services, serving scientists, researchers, and adventurers while maintaining unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship in one of the planet’s most pristine regions.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764774046428-1115