world's first commercial air service to Antarctica

Passengers, scientists, government officials and ground crew gather for a group photo on the purpose-built Wilkins glacial blue ice runway in front of the Airbus A319 jet, to carry passengers on the world's first commercial air service from Hobart to Antarctica, some 65km (40 miles) from the Australian Antarctic research station of Casey, January 11, 2008


The Windmill Islands rise above the ice floe in Vincennes Bay, and lie some 50 kms from the purpose-built Wilkins glacial blue ice runway where the first Airbus A319 jet to carry passengers from Hobart to Antarctica landed, 11 January 2008. The historic flight began the world's first commercial air service to Antarctica and will radically expand Australian scientists' ability to study the effects climate change is having on Antarctica's fragile environment.

The Australian Antarctic research station Casey, left, overlooks Vincennes Bay, and lies 65 kms (40 miles) from the purpose-built Wilkins glacial blue ice runway where the first Airbus A319 jet to carry passengers from Hobart Australia to Antarctica landed, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, in Antarctica. The historic flight began the world's first commercial air service to Antarctica and will radically expand Australian scientists' ability to study the effects climate change is having on Antarctica's fragile environment.