Aussies launch first NZ-Antarctic flights since Erebus
BUSINESSDESK:The first sightseeing flights to Antarctica from New Zealand since the Mt Erebus disaster 33 years ago are on offer from an Australian airline, which says it is responding to demand from Kiwis for a service it has run from Melbourne for the last 18 years.
An Air New Zealand DC10 carrying 257 passengers and crew flew into the side of Mt Erebus with loss of all lives in New Zealand's worst aviation disaster, on November 28, 1979.
Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, a private charter firm operated by Qantas, has been offering flights from Melbourne since 1994 and has taken some 31,000 people to the ice and back, using a Boeing 747-400ER that can carry 364 passengers.
It plans its first New Zealand flight next February, flying from Auckland to the Antarctic continent for $1599 for economy class and $9299 for an up-market option, called "Ice Class".
Chief executive Phil Asker says Antarctica Sightseeing Flights is "very sensitive" to the fact the Erebus disaster still loomed large for New Zealanders, despite the passage of time, but took into account evidence that Kiwis want to make the flight.
"New Zealand interest has increased markedly in the last four or five years," Mr Asker says. "We're aware there's great sensitivity but we thought the time was right to come into New Zealand because we are certainly seeing that demand."
The flight to the ice was also an activity international tourists would often include in a trip to New Zealand or Australia.
"It's a very easy day," he says of the 12-hour flight, which includes four hours flying above the Antarctic continent on one of 19 flight paths pilots can choose from, depending on weather conditions, and includes on-board commentary from Antarctic experts and expeditioners.
The planes will fly no lower than 10,000 feet above sea level or 2000 feet higher than the highest ground for a radius of 180km.
Pricing is graduated in seven stages, with the cheapest option being an aisle seat there and back for $1599. A ticket allowing a swap at halfway between a middle seat and the window is $2600, and a "superior" economy seat towards the rear of the plane and clear of the wings for best viewing is $3700.
"We don't operate in the Erebus region," Mr Asker says.
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Comments and questions11
No surprise its an Australian company making money out of Kiwi's.
Is it time we put the past behind us and Air N.Z. did this ?
What do you think ?
I've been harping on wanting Air NZ to do this for years and I'lll be first in the queue to buy a ticket. I agree, its a damn shame that its not Air NZ climbing back in the pilot seat..
Great burning more fuel directly under the ozone layer!
Twerp.
Agree Air NZ should re-instate.
I had read in deph about the disaster two or three years ago, so when I heard they were relaunching this sort of flight it triggered an interest in my mind as I remembered that these flights had since the accident not taken off from New Zealand since. No issue as the reasons for this disaster surely can be avoided with proper planning (as improper planning that did not properly follow regulations and was not well enough thought out on behalf of the airline charter and the flight crew were the predominant factors in the horrible incident).
Yes - bring them back.
My sister's 19th birthday that day - driving back from a special meal out that night with our parents - in the car on the radio news of the "missing" flight - watching it unfold on TV when back home - waking up next morning to the terrible news - everyone new "someone" affected.
But time has passed - the world has moved on - good to see the flights, the adventure and the fun back.
Reading these comment's Im apalled at the level of literacy; all off them contains either error's in punctuation, spelling, missing apostrophe and the most worst error? "everyone new "someone" affected."
For gods sake its "knew".
...and for gods sake it is "errors".
Dont get too excited.....a lot of responses are made from cell phones and the phone often gives its own interpretation of words. The thing to focus on is the thought.
I would gently like to point out the fact that this post also has more than the "knew" error, mostly in grammar but also misused apostrophes and such. Again, I know what is being said, but throwing pebbles (not stones) one should not live in a glass house.