Antarctica stands as Earth’s most remote and inhospitable continent. Nature clearly tells you not to go. And yet, you feel the call of the wild. But how do you get there? Where do you land? You naturally have questions—let’s dig in.
Why fly to Antarctica?
The primary driver of Antarctic aviation is scientific research. International agreements, particularly the Antarctic Treaty System signed in 1959, established Antarctica as a continent dedicated to peaceful scientific investigation. National Antarctic programs from countries including the United States, Russia, China, Australia, and numerous European nations operate year-round and seasonal research stations across the continent.
Beyond scientists, Antarctic stations require engineers, mechanics, medical staff, communications specialists, cooks, and other support personnel. Everything needed for survival—from food and fuel to scientific equipment and building materials—must be flown or shipped in.
We know what you’re thinking. You made some poor life choices and didn’t train to become either a bonafide scientist or anything matching those supporting roles mentioned above. Fear not, as you still can visit Antarctica! In fact, commercial tourism to the continent has grown significantly since the 1990s, though it remains a niche market. While most Antarctic tourists arrive by ship (approximately 75,000 annually), a growing number fly directly to the continent for day trips or longer expeditions.
Where to land in Antarctica
You’d perhaps be surprised to learn that Antarctica hosts quite a few entry points for airborne passengers. At the time of writing, Flightradar24 tracks more than 20 airstrips in use for the Antarctic summer season of 2025/2026. Out of these, a few notable ones stand out. None of course resembles anything like your typical airport—there’s not a Starbucks or frequent flyer lounge in sight. Then again, you’re not visiting Antarctica for the frappucinos or well-worn lounge chairs, are you?
McMurdo Station
The McMurdo Station Complex is the largest Antarctic aviation facility, comprising three complementary airfields working together: McMurdo Ice Runway (QAI), Williams Field (QAW), and Phoenix Airfield (QAX). Maintained by the US Antarctic Program, this complex supports Antarctica’s largest settlement with approximately 1,000 people during summer and 150 hardy souls remaining through winter. The facility regularly handles C-17 Globemaster strategic transports and LC-130 Hercules aircraft. McMurdo interestingly also operates a TLS, a modified version of the more well-known Instrument Landing System (ILS), allowing for precision approaches in poor weather.
Wolf’s Fang Runway
Wolf’s Fang Runway (WFR) is a privately operated blue-ice runway that from time to time handles some of the largest aircraft regularly visiting Antarctica. ACMI carrier HiFly regularly brings travellers on a five-hour journey from Cape Town on the Airbus A330 and A340. If you happen to be, shall we say, “comfortably affluent”—Wolf’s Fang often is the entry point for high-end package tours. Check out the video below to learn more about how Wolf’s Fang operates—including how a blue-ice runway is maintained.
Wilkins Aerodrome
Wilkins Aerodrome (QAK) serves as Australia’s primary intercontinental air link from Hobart. The facility features extensive logistics facilities and a substantial fuel depot that make it one of Antarctica’s most capable airfields. While open during the Antarctic summer period, ranging from October to March—it remains closed for about a month and a half during the peak summer as the mild temperatures cause sub-surface melt.
Troll Airfield
Troll Airfield (QAT) is run by the Norwegian Antarctic Program and offers enough runway length to accommodate aircraft up to the respectable size of a Boeing 787. During the current season, Troll has seen visits from aircraft such as business jets like the Dassault Falcon 7X and the Boeing 737 MAX 8. Regular connections to Cape Town make it an international hub, and while primarily serving research operations, Troll occasionally accommodates tourist expeditions as a transit point along with private expeditions and film crews.
Novo Runway
Novo Runway (QAO) serves as one of Antarctica’s busiest cargo hubs, operating as a major international logistics center that keeps multiple national programs supplied throughout the season. Operated by the Russian Antarctic Program, the blue-ice runway handles regular Ilyushin Il-76 heavy-lift operations from Cape Town, while Basler BT-67 and DHC-6-300 Twin Otters perform domestic hops on almost a daily basis during the high season.
King George Island
King George Island’s Teniente R. Marsh Airport (TNM) stands out as Antarctica’s most accessible and tourist-focused facility. Chilean airline DAP operates up to four daily charter flights from Punta Arenas, using the nimble Avro RJ100. Offering year-round capability it even features a dedicated control tower. Many tourists performing Antarctica cruises technically cast off from here, saving time and avoiding the notoriously rough Drake Passage crossing and saving time by flying in from Chile.
Other Antarctica airstrips you can view on Flightradar24 are Marambio Airport (QAB), Neumayer III Skiway (QAN), SANAE IV Skiway (QAS), Princess Elisabeth Skiway (QAP), Davis Plateau Skiway (QAD), Rothera Air Facility (QAR), The Fuel Depot (QAF), Sky-Blu Field Station (QAU), Kohnen Skiway (QAH), and Union Glacier Runway (UGL).
Meet the Antarctic fleet
Flying to Antarctica demands aircraft capable of operating in some of the world’s harshest conditions. The cold climate of course comes to mind, but additional peculiarities for aviators include the limited infrastructure available, including scant ground support. Let’s just say that if anything breaks, spare parts might not be a phone call away.
For reaching the Antarctic interior and stations without paved runways, ski-equipped aircraft are essential. Despite many examples technically having surpassed 80 years of age, the Basler BT-67 remains perhaps THE workhorse of Antarctic aviation. Behind the moniker is a heavily modified Douglas DC-3, rebuilt with modern turboprop engines and equipped with retractable skis. Old but gold.
Another icon of the Antarctic skies is the LC-130 Hercules. Essentially a regular “Herc” equipped with retractable skis, these four-engine turboprops can carry substantial cargo loads and land on unprepared snow and ice surfaces.
Other aircraft you’ll notice if perusing Flightradar24 include the DHC-6 Twin Otter and Pilatus PC-6 Porter, often seen doing short flights between field camps and coastal stations. These smaller aircraft can land on relatively short snow runways and perform well in these challenging conditions.
Larger jets visit as well
Several Antarctic stations feature blue-ice runways or compacted snow runways capable of handling larger, wheeled aircraft. These allow intercontinental flights, dramatically increasing cargo capacity and passenger numbers.
The Ilyushin Il-76, a four-engine strategic airlifter, serves several national Antarctic programs, particularly Russia’s. Its more modern American equivalent, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, is often the transporter of choice when the U.S. Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force come around. Speaking of Boeing, the B737 is a regular visitor, often performing charter flights from Cape Town. In November 2023 Norse Atlantic Airways made history when they landed a Boeing 787 at Troll Airfield, the first Dreamliner visit to Antarctica.
European Airbus is also well represented in Antarctica, with both the A320, A330 and A340 families of aircraft having touched down on the continent. These aircraft fly tourists, scientists and the odd Flightradar24 reporter primarily between South America or Africa and the Antarctic blue-ice runways.
Oh, and there are quite a few helicopters roaming the skies as well.
Tourists welcome (if they can afford it)
To sum things up, yes you can go to Antarctica.
With direct flights being arguably the most convenient way to travel, many prefer to visit by boat. Or simply combine the two modes of transportation, fast forward the arduous ocean part by flying and then join a cruise upon landing.
For those seeking a more affordable Antarctic experience, several companies also offer sightseeing flights that overfly the continent without landing. These flights often depart from Australia or New Zealand, fly over dramatic Antarctic scenery for several hours, then return. While not a true Antarctic landing, these flights provide stunning views of the frozen continent at a fraction of the cost of landing expeditions.
Have you been to Antarctica? Are you looking to go? Let us know in the comments below.
10 Responses
We’re fortunate to be flying from Cape Town in the Ilyushin Il-76 in January next year. They are experiencing earlier than usual melting, but are expecting some adverse weather which may or may not help. We’re looking forward to both the flight and the few hours we’ll be there!
I was surprised to learn about the wide range of aircraft used for Antarctic flights! From the rugged Basler BT-67 to the high-tech Dreamliners, it’s impressive to see how diverse the fleet is in handling such extreme conditions.
I was on a few QF flights over the Antarctic, great experience and we did a 2week Cruise from Argentina to spend time on the Ice.
Just Fantastic!!
No caption for the cover photo??? It captures the historic moment the first-ever Airbus A340 landed on an ice runway in Antarctica. The aircraft, operated by Hi Fly, flew 2,500 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Wolf’s Fang Runway. The flight took place on November 2, 2021, marking a significant first for this type of widebody aircraft.
Very well written article – both informative and amusing.
Fascinating read! ✈️ It’s wild to think about how many different aircraft and runway types support aviation in such an extreme environment. From ski-equipped Basler BT-67s and LC-130s to jets landing on blue-ice, the logistics are incredible.
This really resonated with me as my father was a US Navy photographer stationed in Antarctica from the late 1950s through to 1969. Seeing how polar aviation has evolved since that era makes you appreciate just how pioneering those early operations were, and how much today’s flights still rely on that legacy.
Really highlights the unique challenges and ingenuity behind flying to and within Antarctica.
I took a sightseeing flight from Auckland to Antarctica (Air New Zealand) in 1979, in fact one week before the same DC10 flight crashed on Mt. Erebus, near McMurdo Station–a hugely impressive trip, made bittersweet because of the following week’s experience. Then in the late 1980s, I took a cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the very rough waters of the Drake Passage. Both were unforgettable experiences, but flying is definitely the way to go!!
So I do want to go to the Antarctic, and I want to plan my trip for the NEXT SUMMER ANTARCTIC SEASON. Who do I contact directly to start making the “arrangements”. This would be considered an Scientific Expeditionary trip. The basis is to determine just how long it would take a 750ml. bottle of tequila to freeze under Antarctic conditions. The experiment would be carried out utilizing the top 20 shelf brands with variance between Classico white, Reposados, Anejos, and a superb tequila mezcal blend. :’). . . . . . . . Seriously .
Oh wow! That is very cool!
Surprised of the amount of runways and aircraft types used to land in Antarctica.
Post explain and descriptions of spot , very well.