Qantas Airways along with Antarctica Flights announced the return of their Antarctica sightseeing partnership flight in November. The 12-13 joy ride will have no stops, instead, the Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner will circle the icy continent to give flyers an unparalleled view.
The icebergs and ice sheets will be visible at the three-hour mark from the take-off. The Boeing will then cross over the South Magnetic Pole, waving to the jagged peaks under. Travellers from Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth will be able to embark on the journey to witness the awe-inspiring continent from a bird&rsquos eye through the chartered Qantas service. Flyers won&rsquot require a passport to step aboard, as the flight will technically be a domestic one.
&ldquoThere is no passport or luggage needed for an Antarctica Flight, you can even go in board shorts if you wish,&rdquo Antarctica Flights CEO Bas Bosschieter said. &ldquoI think it&rsquos the best answer to the question, &lsquoWhat did you get up to on the weekend&rsquo Just popped down to Antarctica.&rdquo
According to the company, the passengers will be served in-flight refreshments and meals while enjoying the educational movies that will be played en route. Expert lecturers on board will help educate guests and answer any questions on the continent, giving the complete tourist experience.
Passengers will be given two boarding passes, for a window as well as an aisle seat, to switch halfway through the flight to ensure a great view for everyone on board. The plane will perform &ldquosweeping 8s&rdquo for about four hours over Antarctica for the same. Qantas has been running the Antarctica tour flight for more than two decades, but this will be the first time the new 787 Dreamliner will be used for the trip. The first-ever flight was in 1994 on a Boeing 747, which was retired from service last month.