2 December 2025
An Airbus A330 is a hugely capable airliner and it can fly almost anywhere in the world – including Antarctica. Yes, an A330 has successfully landed on an ice runway for the first time.
It was flown there by Hi Fly, a widebody aircraft wet lease and charter specialist. It’s the first time for an A330 but Hi Fly has operated flights to Antartica for five years.
Hi Fly’s Airbus A330-302 touched down safely on the blue-ice runway at Wolf’s Fang Runway, Antarctica, on 1 December. Commanded by Captain Carlos Mirpuri, vice-chairman of Hi Fly, the aircraft connected Cape Town, South Africa, to the remote airfield, continuing Hi Fly’s ongoing partnership with luxury holiday company White Desert Antarctica for the 2025/2026 season.
The A330 shares the same fuselage as Hi Fly’s A340 but is powered by two engines instead of four, delivering comparable performance with greater cost efficiency and an improved environmental footprint.
Twin-engine operations at Wolf’s Fang runway are now possible thanks to additional ground support equipment that was not in place when Hi Fly began Antarctic flights.
“Landing in Antarctica is never routine, every flight demands careful planning, exacting precision, and respect for the environment,” said Captain Mirpuri, who also commanded Hi Fly’s first A340 mission. “Introducing the A330 to this remote runway highlights our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and the ongoing evolution of polar aviation.”
