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Joe Breitfeller

Norse Atlantic Airways Completes Milestone Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flight to Antarctica

Norse Atlantic Airways has achieved a new milestone, becoming the first airline to land a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Antarctica.  The aircraft (registration LN-FNC) touched down at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.


Norse Atlantic Airways Celebrates First-Ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flight to Antarctica on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - Courtesy Norse Atlantic Airways

On Thursday (November 16, 2023), Norse Atlantic Airways announced the achievement of an aviation milestone, having landed the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registration LN-FNC) in Antarctica.  The historic flight touched down at Troll Field (QAT) at 02:01 local time on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Led by Norse and contracted by the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact, Scandinavia’s largest and leading air broker, the historic flight transported scientists and essential research equipment to the remote Troll research station in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.  Norse Atlantic Airways Flight NO787 carried 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and other countries, all destined for different stations in Antarctica, along with 12 tons of critical research equipment.


In Thursday’s announcement, Norse Atlantic Airways’ CEO, Bjørn Tore Larsen, said,


“It is a great honor and excitement on behalf of the entire team Norse that we have achieved together a momentous moment of landing the first 787 Dreamliner.  In the spirit of exploration, we are proud to have a hand in this important and unique mission.  It is a true testament to our highly trained and skilled pilots and crew, and our state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft.”


Also commenting on the historic mission, Norwegian Polar Institute’s Director, Camilla Brekke, said,


“The most crucial aspect is the environmental gain we can achieve by using large and modern aircraft of this type for Troll.  This can help reduce overall emissions and the environmental footprint in Antarctica.  Landing such a large aircraft opens up entirely new possibilities for logistics at Troll, which will also contribute to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica.”


Norse Atlantic Airways Touches Down in Antarctica - Courtesy Norse Atlantic Airways


The historic flight departed Oslo on November 13th, and made an interim stop in Cape Town, before embarking on the challenging arctic leg on Wednesday, November 15th.


Further commenting on the milestone flight, Aircontact’s Air Broker and Spokesperson, Daniel Carey, said,


“We’ve been involved in missions to the Antarctic for years.  The Dreamliner's huge cargo space makes it perfect for these flights.”


Speaking on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s capabilities, Boeing’s Field Service Representative, Paul Erlandsson, added,


“The 787 Dreamliner stands out for its exceptional fuel efficiency, enabling a round-trip flight from Cape Town to Antarctica without the need for refueling.  This not only ensures swift turnarounds but also significantly benefits the environment by eliminating logistical complexities of transporting, storing, and handling fuel in Antarctica.  Paired with the aircraft’s impressive 150 cubic meters of cargo capacity distributed across three cargo holds, and a cargo loading system designed for easy handling of pallets and containers, the Dreamliner excels at meeting the demands of this mission.”


Norse Atlantic Airways Historic Flight NO787, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Registration LN-FNC) Touches Down at Troll Airfield (QAT) in Antarctica on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - Norwegian Polar Institute


Founded in March 2021 by major shareholder and CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen, Norse Atlantic Airways offers affordable transatlantic and European flights.  The airline’s first flight between Oslo and the U.S. departed on June 14, 2022.  The company’s head office is located in Arendal, Norway, and Norse has a second office in London.  Norse has a fleet of 15 modern, fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.  The carrier offers service to New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami, Washington, San Francisco, Boston, Oslo, Paris, Rome, London, Berlin and Barbados, as well as Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica

 


Source: Norse Atlantic Airways/Cision

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