Norse Atlantic Airways has successfully completed its second charter flight for scientific research purposes in Antarctica, one year after making history as the first Dreamliner to land on the unique blue ice runway at Troll Airfield in the white continent.
On November 15, 2024, at 10:55 local time, the Norse Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner, registered as LN-FNC and named «Everglades», successfully landed, transporting 10.5 tons of research equipment and scientists for the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact.
The journey followed the route Oslo-Cape Town-Troll Airfield-Cape Town-Oslo, similar to the airline’s historic first landing last year, including a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, before the final leg to Antarctica.
Four flights
Norse Atlantic will complete a total of four charter flights to Antarctica to support scientific research. This achievement reflects the airline’s growing reputation for operational excellence, demonstrated by the expertise of its highly trained pilots and crew and its state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft.
The Dreamliner, particularly suited for long-haul flights, is renowned for its fuel efficiency, allowing it to complete a round trip from Cape Town to Antarctica without refueling, providing both economic and environmental advantages.
Its spacious cargo hold enabled the safe transport of significant volumes of research equipment critical for operations at remote scientific research stations.
Complex logistical operations
“Returning to Antarctica with our Dreamliner reaffirms Norse Atlantic’s ability to manage complex logistical operations. We are proud to demonstrate the capabilities and efficiency of our aircraft and the operational excellence of the Norse Atlantic charter flight team, from meticulous planning to precise execution, highlighting our role as a trusted partner for missions even to the most remote destinations,” said Mette Birkedahl, Director of Charter Flights and ACMI at Norse Atlantic Airways.
“Landing an aircraft of this size for the second time is a significant milestone for us in Antarctica. It opens new opportunities for logistics at Troll, as we can transport more cargo and more people on the same flight, which will also help strengthen Norwegian research in Antarctica,” stated John Guldahl, Director of Operations and Logistics at the Norwegian Polar Institute.
Daniel Carey, Air Broker and Spokesperson for Aircontact, one of the world’s oldest air brokers specializing in aviation services and serving as a vital link for aviation missions, highlighted the Dreamliner’s capabilities and the importance of involving civil aviation authorities to ensure quality and operational safety and secure their approval before the mission.
“Having Norse Atlantic Airways with the B787-900 as the ace in the deck for the operator to support the Norwegian Polar Institute at Troll is a unique value in terms of not needing fuel and the cargo capacity provided by the B787-900. Additionally, having Norse as a Norwegian operator under the Norwegian CAA adds another valuable asset,” he said.
