A380 To Take Passengers On Sightseeing Flights Over Antarctica

The A380 will again make history by taking passengers on a sightseeing flight across Antarctica.

The Qantas A380 will become the first A380 to fly over the continent, and the only aircraft that has been given permission to do so on New Years Eve.

The flight, which will depart Sydney and fly via Melbourne to reach Antarctica, has been organised by Melbourne-based Antarctica Sightseeing Flights.

Passengers will have the chance to fly over the ice at midnight and be the first in the world to see the light of the New Year.

The chartered Qantas A380 will fly for up to four hours above the ice in figure-eight patterns before heading back to Melbourne and Sydney.

The Qantas A380 fleet is configured to seat up to 450 passengers with a range of eight seating options for the Antarctic flights.

Prices from Sydney and Melbourne for the New Year’s Eve flight range from $999 for an Economy Class Centre seat to $6,299 in First Class.

The sightseeing company has planned two other chartered services including a second A380 direct from Sydney on January 24 and a Boeing 747-400 from Melbourne.