Norse Atlantic Airways, known as The Explorer’s Airline, marked an aviation milestone with the first landing of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica, Nov 15, 2023.
Led by Norse Atlantic Airways and contracted by the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact, Scandinavia’s largest and leading air broker firm, this mission transported essential research equipment and scientists to the remote Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
Aboard flight N0787 were 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other countries, destined for different stations in Antarctica. The flight also transported 12 tons of essential research equipment crucial for Antarctic exploration.
Starting from Oslo on November 13th, the Dreamliner made a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, before embarking on the challenging Antarctic leg. Departing Cape Town at 23:03 on Wednesday, the aircraft spent over 40 hours in South Africa before its historic landing at Troll Airfield.
Antarctica lacks conventional paved runways; hence Norse Atlantic Airways landed on a ‘blue ice runway’, 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, at Troll Airfield. The Norwegian Polar Institute operates the research station located in Jutulsessen in Queen Maud Land, approximately 235 kilometers from the coast.
Norse Atlantic Airways has documented it´s journey on this historic flight, and an exclusive look at the first episode can be viewed on their YouTube channel @flynorse: Norse Atlantic Airways – YouTube
