Pilot successfully lands an Airbus A330 in Antarctica for the first time ever in amazing accomplishment
Published on Jan 10, 2026 at 8:33 PM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on Jan 08, 2026 at 4:48 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Hi Fly Malta has made aviation history with the first-ever Antarctica landing of an Airbus A330, touching down on the icy Wolf’s Fang airfield.
The milestone flight followed a five-and-a-half-hour journey from Cape Town, South Africa to Queen Maud Land on December 1.
This is a big deal considering just how dangerous the conditions can prove in Antarctica.
But as it turns out, even the harshest environments on the planet are not off-limits.
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‘Landing in Antarctica is never routine’
The Airbus A330-300, is configured to carry 313 passengers, so it’s not a small plane.
Captain Carlos Mirpuri, Hi Fly’s Vice-Chairman, led the flight and joining him was CEO Antonios Efthymiou.
“Landing in Antarctica is never routine,” Mirpuri said.
“Every flight requires precision, planning, and respect for the environment.”
The Airbus A330, which is well-known for its aerial abilities, proved it was up to the challenge.
Previously, Mirpuri became the first in the world to land a four-engine Airbus A340 in Antarctica, straight onto snow and ice.
Why the Airbus A330 is getting a lot of praise
Compared to the A340, it offers similar performance, but is more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Special ground support equipment, like a Ground Power Unit and an Air Starter Unit, made the flight possible.
Wolf’s Fang Runway is built on 1.4 km of solid glacial ice, and is capable of supporting heavy widebody jets.
The ice is grooved and maintained to provide a safe landing surface.
On this milestone flight, the A330 landed safely, stayed on the ice for nearly four hours, then returned to Cape Town without issue.
Hi Fly Malta has been flying to Antarctica for over five years.
Their missions combine tourism, scientific support, and logistics in extreme conditions.
The Antarctica landing proves that with the right aircraft and pilot, even the harshest corners of the planet can be reached.
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Jason Fan is an experienced content creator who graduated from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore with a degree in communications. He then relocated to Australia during a millennial mid-life crisis. A fan of luxury travel and high-performance machines, he politely thanks chatbots just in case the AI apocalypse ever arrives. Jason covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on technology, planes and luxury.
