By James Wilkinson

Australian companies are being offered a unique opportunity to take staff and clients on the incentive trip of a lifetime, thanks to the launch of Airbus A380 sightseeing flights to Antarctica later this year.

Qantas A380s will operate two Antarctica flights

While the inaugural Airbus A380 Antarctica sightseeing flight slated for New Years Eve sold out within a week, seats are still available for two more services scheduled for early 2010.

The inaugural flight on New Year’s Eve marks the first ever commercial Airbus A380 service to fly over Antarctica and is the first of three planned for summer by Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, which operates the services with chartered Qantas jets.

Incentive travel packages can be tailored for the second A380 flight on Sunday January 24 from Sydney and on a Boeing 747-400 flight from Melbourne on Sunday, February 14.

Spectacular: the view from an Economy Class seat

Antarctica Sightseeing Flights marketing manager Kim Tillott says a number of add-ons are available for incentive groups, including company logos on seat headrests and dedicated in-flight channels where videos can be shown to a select number of guests.

Tillott says with the economy regaining strength, Antarctic sightseeing flights were the perfect way for companies to reward guests or clients for their hard work or loyalty over the last 12 months.

“A one day flight-seeing visit to Antarctica is an unforgettable travel experience,” she says. “It’s also a great opportunity for incentive planners, who are always seeking new and different experiences to offer their clients – and there are few incentives to rival a day trip to the South Pole.

“On a number of our previous flights, we have carried corporate or incentive groups, and on one occasion a full Boeing 747 was booked out by a major company, which treated its key suppliers to Antarctica for a day,” Tillott says.

Prices for the Antarctica flights range from AUD$999 for an economy class centre seat to AUD$6299 for first class. For bookings, visit www.antarcticaflights.com.au