Is this the coolest flight of the year? Antarctica and back – the 12-hour trip from Australia with Qantas regarded as a domestic flight, with social distancing at only US$860

Aug 22 , 2020

From lockdown to a 12-hour flight in economy, it could be an amazing experience or … travel options are becoming creative. Photo: Unsplash

Departing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth these flights offer a four-hour viewing experience of the South Pole without touching the ice, and in case coronavirus travel restrictions continue it’s regarded as a domestic flight

Qantas is preparing to restart one of its most storied, and curious, routes: a 12-hour flight covering thousands of miles and then, landing right back where it started. As the world’s airlines struggle in a time of cratering travel demand, the Australian carrier is offering to fly passengers to Antarctica – and bring them home without touching the ground.

Qantas’ fleet of Boeing 747s has been another victim of the pandemic, retired early. Photo: AFP

Tour company Antarctica Flights charters Qantas planes to operate the flights, which will spend about four hours flying over the continent during the South Pole’s summer daylight months, offering passengers a rare view of the icy expanse.

Melting of the ice cap of Antarctica’s Eagle Island following record high temperatures. Photo: Nasa

Between November and February (when the sun shines the longest) the company will run seven flights: two each from Sydney and Melbourne and one each out of Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Although the flights may seem pedestrian to those who would rather explore on the ground for themselves, they have an undeniable appeal during a pandemic that has blocked most overseas travel for Australians, or anyone else for that matter.

The Earth, with the icy expanse of Antarctica seen at bottom surrounded by swirls of cloud. Photo: AFP

Because these planes land back at their origin, they’re considered domestic flights so travellers have a chance to see someplace new, technically without leaving their home country. And for those worried about spending 12 hours sharing a cabin, Antarctica Flights has said it will block some seats to allow for a degree of social distancing.

Qantas will use a newer, more efficient Boeing 787 – a plane famed for its especially large windows. Photo: Reuters

In past years, these flights were operated by a Qantas Boeing 747-400. However, the airline retired that fleet this year, several years earlier than planned due to the pandemic. Instead, the airline will use a newer, more efficient Boeing 787 – a plane famed for its especially large windows.