Qantas A380 to offer Antarctica flight

[Dan Hammond]

For those interested this flight is happening today operating as QF2903 and going via MEL

[Brandon Giacomin]

VH-OQB is the reg

[Michael Atkin]

For these sorts of flights will the aircraft be boarded at the Intl terminal and if so will the passengers have to pass customs and immigration just like a normal Intl flight? or would they be exempt because they arnt actually landing in another country?

[Dan Hammond]

Im not sure about Customs although i dont think they will need to pass them like a normal intl flight however because this is the A380 and no Domestic gates can take the aircraft i know in MEL this is the reason it will be using gate D11 (intl stand)

[Michael Atkin]

as this is classified as a domestic flight and you will board the flight at the domestic terminal.

According to this http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/faqs.html the flight will be boarded at the domestic terminal but as you said Dan i didn't think the domestic terminal could take the A380

[Peter Agatsiotis]

OQB is airborne at FL150 heading for MEL.

[Ian Garton]

I wonder which timezone they'll use to celebrate the new year.
Probably Australian summer time I guess since the flight originated in that timezone.

[Adam.S]

From:
http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/faqs.html

The 14 February 2010 flight from Melbourne is aboard Qantas' new Boeing 747-400 aircraft

New Boeing 747-400!!

[Ryan N]

smh.com.au

Antarctic NYE party flight takes off
From: AAP
December 31, 2009 6:02PM

A QANTAS A380 Airbus takes off from Melbourne this evening taking 450 passengers south to the Antarctic to welcome in the new year on a "midnight sun'' sightseeing trip over the southern continent.

It will be the first commercial flight by the world's largest airliner over the Antarctic.

An onboard jazz band will keep passengers entertained on the flight as they cruise over icebergs, mountains, glaciers and Antarctic research bases.

Maryline Morini, a spokeswoman for Croydon Travel, which has chartered the flight, said passengers could see in the new year several times as the plane crosses various datelines flying figure-of-eight circuits over the icy continent.

The fully-booked flight returns to Melbourne tomorrow morning and more of the charter flights are planned in 2010.

[Adam.S]

departure from MEL at 18:45.