First B737MAX in Antarctica

On 26 January, the Boeing B737MAX made its first appearance in Antarctica in the form of B737-8 OK-SWB (43556), of Smartwings. The aircraft was chartered by Aircontact to carry members of the Norwegian Polar Institute to their base. The MAX flew from Oslo to Cape Town (via N'Djamena) and then onwards to Antarctica.

Throughout the flight, the crew received constant updates on the conditions of the runway and weather at Antarctica, where the aircraft landed on the 3,000 metres long ice runway. To be able to operate the flight, three captains conducted an extensive preparation of several months as well as an Arctic Survival Training course. The aircraft was also stocked with polar survival kits and critical spare parts.

Smartwings aircraft have been operating to 400 airports around the world per year but, until now, Antarctica had been the only continent where an aircraft of the airline hadn't landed yet.

Photo by Smartwings.