There are only a few major departure points for flights to Antarctica, and they are all located in South America, as it is the closest continent to Antarctica. These departure points typically serve as the gateways for travelers heading to Antarctica for expeditions, cruises, or scientific purposes. Here are the major departure points for flights to Antarctica:
1. Punta Arenas, Chile
- Overview: Punta Arenas is the primary departure point for flights to Antarctica, particularly for travelers heading to the Antarctic Peninsula. It is located in the southernmost region of Chile, near the Strait of Magellan.
- Flight Options: From Punta Arenas, flights typically go to King George Island (near the Antarctic Peninsula) and other nearby locations.
- Aircraft: Small, specialized aircraft (often Antonov or Ilyushin planes) are used for flights to Antarctica. These planes are designed to handle the extreme cold and challenging conditions.
- Airlines: Flights are typically operated by specialized operators like Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) and Antarctica21, which offer flight-and-cruise packages.
- Season: Flights from Punta Arenas to Antarctica are generally available only during the Antarctic summer season (November to March).
2. Ushuaia, Argentina
- Overview: Ushuaia is located at the southern tip of Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego. It is another key gateway for Antarctic travel, especially for travelers joining expedition cruises that combine both flight and sea travel.
- Flight Options: Some tour operators offer flights from Ushuaia to King George Island or other locations in Antarctica. These flights are typically part of fly-cruise packages, where you fly directly to Antarctica and then board a ship to explore the continent further.
- Aircraft: Similar to Punta Arenas, small aircraft such as Russian-built Antonov and Ilyushin planes are used for these flights.
- Cruise Option: In addition to flights, many travelers also choose to take cruise ships from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, which is a longer but scenic journey. This is especially common for travelers on longer expedition cruises to the continent.
- Season: Flights from Ushuaia to Antarctica are also seasonal, running during the Antarctic summer months, as weather conditions are more favorable for air and sea travel.
3. Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Overview: While Buenos Aires itself doesn’t offer direct flights to Antarctica, it serves as a major international gateway to Ushuaia, where many Antarctic expeditions begin. Buenos Aires is often used as a stopover point for travelers flying from around the world.
- Flight Options: From Buenos Aires, travelers typically take a domestic flight to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas to board flights to Antarctica.
- Airlines: Domestic flights to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires are typically operated by Aerolineas Argentinas.
- Cruise Option: Similarly, some Antarctic expeditions depart from Buenos Aires with a connection to Ushuaia by sea, although this is less common than departing directly from Ushuaia.
4. Civiles and Other Smaller Airstrips
- King George Island: As a major landing point for Antarctic flights, King George Island near the Antarctic Peninsula receives flights from both Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. While it is not a major departure point itself, it is a key landing destination for flights from the above cities.
- Union Glacier: Located further inland in Antarctica, Union Glacier is serviced by small aircraft and used for research expeditions and tourist flights. Some expeditions may include flights to Union Glacier, which is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE).