Do commercial airlines fly over Antarctica? A recent Qantas detour has the answer

Antarctica, on the bottom of the world, remains an uncharted territory for explorers and adventurers. Well, not just for explorers and adventurers, but a lot of us. Have you ever wondered -- if you got a chance to get there, how would you get there?

Passengers aboard a Qantas Flight QF28, from Santiago (Chile) to Sydney (Australia) inched a bit closer to this unique experience on July 14 as the aircraft charted an unconventional route, soaring over the coast of Antarctica. The flight ventured as far south as 74.17°S latitude, surpassing its typical southern limit of 70°S.

The flight had to take a different route because strong winds were blowing against it. These winds would have made the flight longer and used up more fuel.

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So, do flights even fly to or over Antarctica?

Yes, why not.

• The prospect of commercial flights to the frozen continent remains elusive, given the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions, limited visibility during snowfalls and whiteouts, and the absence of a robust infrastructure posing significant challenges.
• Also in the southern hemisphere, due to the absence of any substantial large landmass, and airports, flying over the continent makes no sense as there aren't such routes down under as we have in Polar Asia, Europe and America.

• Moreover, the powerful magnetic fields surrounding the polar region create navigational complexities for aircraft as they can mess up flight instrumentation and navigational capabilities.
• Consequently, commercial flights over Antarctica are rare; with research, military operations, rescue missions, and specialised scenic tourism comprising the primary reasons for airborne expeditions to the continent.
• The only part of Antarctica where these planes can't go is the very centre. 

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This does not mean regular airliners haven't gone that far (up) towards the pole. In 2021, a Qantas Dreamliner flew from Buenos Aires to Darwin and touched as far as 75°S latitude for the 17-hour-25-minute flight (similar to the Qantas QF28 flight).

A frozen view​​​​​​?

• The passengers aboard QF28, unfortunately, missed the opportunity to behold the ever-frozen Antarctic vistas due to the polar winter's perpetual darkness at a time when it is summer in the northern hemisphere. Remember, the earth's axis is 23 degrees tilted.
• Qantas, however, operates charter flights granting passengers a front-row seat to the magnificent coastal wonders and snow-laden interior of Antarctica.
• These flights also offer a rare chance to witness the mesmerising views of the frozen continent, including the ethereal Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights.

Why did Qantas QF28 have to take a detour?

• In the case of QF28, strong headwinds along the customary flight path demanded an alternative strategy.
• By veering further south, the flight minimised the impact of these headwinds, ensuring optimal efficiency in terms of time and fuel consumption.

• Hence, the flight took a route southwards beyond its usual path and even the straight great circular path.

Headwinds are the strong winds blowing opposite the direction of an aircraft's travel in the upper atmosphere, which presents a considerable challenge to the speed and course of an aircraft.

Likewise, there are tailwinds and crosswinds too.

• Thus, the flight completed its approximately 14-hour journey half an hour ahead of the planned schedule.
• This deviation showcases the importance of adapting flight plans to mitigate the adverse effects of weather patterns.
• Thanks to the ETOPS certification!

The ETOPS-equipped B787 however had the liberty of deviating from its flight path, which means it could keep flying off its course for up to 330 minutes (that's 5 hours and 30 minutes), even if one of its engines stopped working.