In a historic operation, the Airbus A340-600 operated by European Cargo has become the largest aircraft ever to land in Antarctica, delivering supplies to research stations.<br />Antarctica — On November 5, the massive Airbus A340-600 belonging to British airline European Cargo made its first landing on Antarctic ice at the Wolf’s Fang ice runway, setting a new record as the largest aircraft ever to touch down on the continent.<br />Registered as G-ECLN, the four-engine jet carried essential cargo and equipment to resupply scientific research stations. The landing, performed on a highly compacted blue-ice runway, required meticulous planning and an experienced crew due to the extreme weather conditions and lack of conventional airport infrastructure.<br />European Cargo was established during the pandemic to meet the urgent demand for medical freight transport. Even after the health crisis ended, the company continued operations and now manages a fleet of six Airbus A340-600 aircraft converted exclusively for cargo use. The aircraft used in the Antarctic mission had previously served for about 14 years with Virgin Atlantic before being transformed into a heavy cargo freighter.<br />Until now, the title of the largest aircraft to land in Antarctica belonged to the Airbus A340-300 operated by Portuguese airline Hi Fly, which also conducted similar logistical flights to the Wolf’s Fang airfield.<br />European Cargo’s latest mission represents not only a technical achievement but also a significant logistical milestone in supporting scientific research across the planet’s most remote and challenging continent.<br />Source and images: European Cargo
