Australia is to build an ice runway in Antarctica to enable scientists to fly to the frozen continent rather than endure a gruelling 10-day sea passage, the government announced yesterday.
Canberra claims 42 per cent of Antarctica, the largest claim of any nation. More than A$46 million ($278 million) was allocated to the project in this week's federal budget, with the first flights expected to begin next year.
Planes will fly between Hobart, Australia's southernmost state capital, and Casey Station, one of three Australian research bases in Antarctica. They will land on a 3.6km-long runway carved out of the ice, although it will only operate during the summer months.
The government said the air link would be used only by scientists and would not be open to tourists.
Small groups of tourists travel to Antarctica by boat each year but any moves towards a commercial airstrip would alarm environmentalists, who want to maintain the continent's pristine condition.
About 200 people work at the Australian bases during the southern hemisphere's summer months, conducting research into climate change, marine science and the impact of humans.