Hi Fly Marks Five Years of Antarctica Flights with A340 Landing
Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly has celebrated five years of Antarctic operations with a special commemorative flight to the icy continent. The milestone marks half a decade since the airline’s historic first landing in 2021, when its Airbus A340-300 became the largest commercial jet ever to touch down on Antarctica’s Wolf’s Fang ice runway.
On November 2, 2025, Hi Fly’s A340-300 (registration 9H-SUN) operated the inaugural flight of the 2025/26 Antarctica season for luxury tour operator White Desert, connecting Cape Town, South Africa, to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Queen Maud Land. Commanded by Captain Carlos Mirpuri, the airline’s vice-chairman, the mission covered 2,500 nautical miles each way, completing the journey in just over five hours.
The flight carried 15 tons of payload and 81 tons of fuel—enough for the round trip, as no refueling facilities exist on the continent. Upon landing, the crew marked the occasion with a plaque inscribed, “Celebrating 5 Years in Antarctica.”
Hi Fly highlighted the complexity of operating in extreme conditions, with temperatures near minus 16°C and strong katabatic winds. The airline praised the precision, teamwork, and environmental respect that make each Antarctic mission possible.
As Hi Fly prepares to retire its final Airbus A340, the company noted that the aircraft’s capabilities and reliability have made these historic missions possible, cementing its place in polar aviation history.
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