First commercial air service to Antarctica

Hobart, Australia: 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 first Airbus A319 jet to carry passengers from Hobart to Antarctica on Friday.

The historic flight began the world's first commercial air service to Antarctica some half a century since the idea of a runway on Antarctica was first raised.

The runway, which moves about 12 metres southwest a year because of glacial drift, was carved out of the ice and levelled using laser technology.