Hi Fly has added a new milestone to its record of polar aviation achievements, successfully landing an Airbus A330 in Antarctica for the first time. The flight comes just weeks after the airline celebrated five consecutive years of operations on the White Continent.
The Airbus A330-302, registered 9H-HFI and powered by General Electric engines, touched down on the blue-ice runway at Wolf’s Fang in Antarctica on December 1 at 23:59 local time. The mission connected Cape Town with the remote airfield and was operated in partnership with White Desert Antarctica for the 2025/2026 season.
The flight was commanded by Captain Carlos Mirpuri, Hi Fly’s Vice-Chairman, with CEO Captain Antonios Efthymiou also on board to mark the occasion.
The A330, which shares a fuselage with Hi Fly’s A340 but operates with two engines instead of four, brings greater fuel efficiency and a smaller environmental footprint to Antarctic operations. Twin-engine flights to Wolf’s Fang are now possible thanks to new ground support equipment that was not available when Hi Fly began its Antarctic programme.
Hi Fly says the aircraft’s reliability, comfort, and resilience in extreme conditions make it well-suited for the demanding polar environment.
The milestone follows the company’s widely publicised 2021 achievement, when it became the first airline to land an Airbus A340 on the continent. The addition of the A330 further expands the carrier’s capabilities in long-range, high-complexity and environmentally sensitive missions.
“Landing in Antarctica is never routine — every flight demands meticulous planning, precision and a deep respect for the environment,” Mirpuri said. “Introducing the A330 to this runway highlights our commitment to innovation and the ongoing evolution of polar aviation.”
The arrival of the A330 strengthens Hi Fly’s position as a specialist in challenging and remote-location operations. The Portuguese wet-lease and charter airline operates a modern widebody fleet used by airlines, governments, tour operators, corporations and humanitarian organisations worldwide.
Hi Fly has become particularly well known for its special-mission expertise, including emergency responses, humanitarian airlifts and pioneering flights to Antarctica — a niche it has steadily expanded through a series of firsts.
This post was published on 3 December 2025 18:02
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