Hello Fly A340 First Class flight from Antarctica to Cape City


Wednesday newsletters all the time function a resort or flight evaluation.

Final February, I loved a elegant vacation that I’ll bear in mind as my most epic journey ever: a visit to Cape City (South Africa) and Antarctica (the seventh Continent). You may learn my journey experiences right here:


In the present day: First Class flight from Antarctica to Cape City in a personal Airbus A340 jet

Final February, I visited Antarctica with White Desert, the primary operator taking visitors into the hardly ever seen inside of Antarctica and managing Antarctica’s solely luxurious camps. That is my evaluation of the return flight from Antarctica to Cape City, a 5 hour and 30 minute journey in First Class onboard an Airbus A340 that was privately chartered by White Desert and operated by Hello Fly. Hello Fly is a totally licensed airline with two air operator certificates, one issued by Portugal and the opposite by Malta. The corporate has no scheduled locations and makes a speciality of worldwide plane leases for airways, tour operators, governments, corporations (equivalent to White Desert) and people. The A340 airframe that flew us to again to Cape City was inbuilt 1997 and used to fly for Singapore Airways (1997-2004) and later Emirates (2004-2013), earlier than becoming a member of the Hello Fly fleet.

Since I’ve already printed an in depth evaluation of the outbound flight right here (Cape City to Antarctica), I made a decision to write down this journey report in a considerably totally different format, summarizing my flight expertise from begin to finish, illustrated by dozens of pictures. You may watch my YouTube video with my impressions through the return flight (together with an outstanding take off scene) right here:

Have you ever ever traveled to Antarctica? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

  • Flight route: Wolf’s Fang Runway to Antarctica
  • Airline: Hello Fly
  • Plane kind: Airbus A340-300
  • Plane registration quantity: 9H-TQZ
  • Departure time: 7 pm
  • Arrival: 10:30 pm
  • Miles: 2300 miles (4630 km)
  • Flight time: 5 hours and half-hour
  • Seat: 1K
  • Class: First Class

After an unforgettable week within the nice outside of Antarctica’s Queen Maud Land, our time within the White Continent was coming to an finish. The White Desert workers picked us up in a 4×4 Arctic truck and took us to Wolf’s Fang runway, a brief 15 min drive by way of an otherworldly panorama. At Wolf’s Fang, a tented lounge – adorned within the model of the early explorers – was accessible, the place we might wait a short while the aircraft was being loaded with cargo. The lounge supplied a haven of consolation and heat amidst Antarctica’s unforgiven local weather.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
LOUNGE AT WOLF’S FANG
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
LOUNGE AT WOLF’S FANG

After a brief wait within the lounge and enjoying some board video games with my journey companions, it was time to board the plane. The workers accompanied us on the quick 15 min stroll from the lounge to the aircraft; I wanted the quick hike I’d have taken longer for the reason that view of the large Airbus A340 towards a backdrop of jagged mountains and glacial icefields was past spectacular, not like something I had ever seen earlier than. There was fairly some exercise on the airfield, for the reason that return flight carried extra passengers in comparison with the outbound flight. The passengers have been a mixture of White Desert visitors & workers and scientists of a close-by analysis heart who have been leaving the continent as winter approached.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY AIRBUS A340
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY AIRBUS A340
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY AIRBUS A340

White Desert’s camp visitors have been seated within the First Class cabin, which nonetheless featured the previous Emirates cabin design with a lot of gold and picket trims.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS CABIN
FIRST CLASS CABIN

The First Class seat, whereas previous, was nonetheless very comfy and had hundreds and a great deal of leg room however nonetheless felt dated in comparison with right this moment’s First Class seats. A monitor – displaying the flight route – was hidden within the seat’s heart armrest whereas the seat’s different armrest held the tray desk, the seat controls and a handheld distant.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS SEAT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS SEAT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS SEAT

After boarding was full, the doorways have been closed and it didn’t take lengthy earlier than we took to the skies. The takeoff roll on Wolf-Fang blue ice runway felt surreal (and bumpy) and the surroundings proper after raise off was breathtaking. The aircraft made a U-turn, permitting us one final glimpse of the White Continent, earlier than we climbed by way of a skinny cloud layer and proceeded in a single direct line to Cape City, a journey of 5 hours and half-hour throughout the Southern Ocean.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
VIEWS AFTER TAKEOFF
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
VIEWS AFTER TAKEOFF
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
VIEWS AFTER TAKEOFF

Shortly after takeoff, the crew handed out scorching towels to refresh just a little.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HOT TOWEL

A pill was supplied to every passenger (with a small choice of films and documentaries) in addition to noise cancelling headphones. The Airbus A340 was not geared up with WiFi.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY TABLET WITH INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY TABLET WITH INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY TABLET WITH INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY TABLET WITH INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY TABLET WITH INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Dinner service began about 45 minutes after takeoff, whereas we left the shore of Antarctica behind. The menu learn as follows:

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
MENU
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
MENU

As a starter, an antipasto platter was served with breadsticks and charcuterie.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
STARTER

As a fundamental course, I select braised beef shirt rib on candy potato puree with roasted courgettes & carrots.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
MAIN COURSE

Chocolate malakoff was served as desert.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
DESSERT

After dinner, it was time for a nap. The angled lie-flat First Class seat allowed a recline to a close to 180 levels, and the Hello Fly cabin crew supplied a pillow and blanket.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS SEAT (BED POSITION)
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
FIRST CLASS SEAT (BED POSITION)

The flight from Antarctica to Cape City was remarkably clean (no turbulence in any respect), which was additionally the case for the outbound (Cape City to Antarctica) flight. I used to be anticipating numerous turbulence on each flights (since Antarctica is surrounded by a belt of stormy climate) however fortuitously, that proved to not be the case. It allowed me to stretch my legs as usually as I wished, and in addition gave me the chance to discover the aircraft’s different cabins.

The 42 Enterprise Class seats have been assigned to White Desert workers and visitors who had booked a daytrip to Antarctica.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 BUSINESS CLASS

In the meantime, the scientists from a few of Antarctica’s analysis facilities have been having a celebration within the entrance Financial system Class cabin, celebrating the top of their mission on the White Continent.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ECONOMY CLASS

I additionally checked out the bathrooms, which have been geared up with Charlotte Rys toiletries (a South African luxurious model).

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
LAVATORY
HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
LAVATORY

The solar was setting as we approached Cape City.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
SUNSET

The aircraft landed on the metropolis’s worldwide airport at 9 pm native time, after which it was time to say goodbye to my journey companions and White Desert’s wonderful workers.

HI FLY AIRBUS A340 ANTARCTICA
AIRBUS A340 AFTER LANDING IN CAPE TOWN

*** Comply with me on InstagramYouTubeTwitter or Fb for a each day second of journey inspiration ***


 



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