Antarctica scenic flights 2021: The one international destination Australians can still visit

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This was published 3 years ago

Antarctica scenic flights 2021: The one international destination Australians can still visit

By Anthony Dennis
Updated
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Chill out. There actually is one place we can travel overseas in 2021 (and 2022, too) with little prospect of border closures or sudden lockdowns. And you get to leave from the domestic airport.

We refer to the white continent, Antarctica, to which COVID-19 safe scenic flights have been operating from Sydney and Melbourne and other Australian capitals during the pandemic.

With a return flight duration of more than 12 hours, these scenic flights offer a rare opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth aboard a chartered Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Tellingly, they've also allowed Australians to make an overdue reacquaintance with long-distance air travel.

For most of the passengers, the flights offer their first taste of travel beyond Australian shores in a year or more with Antarctica likely to remain the furthest destination Australians will be able to travel to until at least the end of the year.

For the next 2021-2022 season, eight flights are already scheduled and available for booking, an increase on the 2020-2021 season by one, with the inclusion of a departure from Hobart, home of the Australian Antarctic Division.

Seats are still available on January 31 Antarctica Flights but you'll need to be quick.

"The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about the flights with people itching to get away," says Bas Bosschieter, chief executive of Antarctica Flights, the Melbourne-based operator of the scenic tours.

"For most, it was their first taste of travel in almost 12 months. So while there was high excitement about travelling over Antarctica it was amplified by being able to travel again.

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"The Dreamliner has also proven to be the perfect plane for our Antarctica Flights with 60 per cent larger windows than other aircraft of her size. This makes for spectacular viewing."

Of course, there's no escaping all of the realities of the pandemic with passengers enjoying the reassurance of Antarctica Flight's close partnership with Qantas with its crew ensuring all of the flights follow COVID-19 safety procedures and requirements.

See antarcticaflights.com.au for reservations or phone 1800 633 449

See also: On board Qantas' scenic 'flight to somewhere'

See also: 'Is this a joke?' Qantas sightseeing flights slammed

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