{"id":164133,"date":"2026-11-11T15:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T09:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=164133"},"modified":"2026-11-11T14:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T09:07:42","slug":"lufthansas-retired-a340-600-makes-historic-return-flying-tourists-to-antarctica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/11\/lufthansas-retired-a340-600-makes-historic-return-flying-tourists-to-antarctica\/","title":{"rendered":"Lufthansa’s Retired Airbus A340-600 Makes Historic Return, Now Flying Tourists to Antarctica"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BERLIN-<\/strong> A former Lufthansa Airbus A340-600<\/a> has returned to commercial service in an unusual role, transporting tourists from Cape Town (CPT)<\/a> to Antarctica. German charter airline Universal Sky Carrier (USC) has started operating the four-engine aircraft between Cape Town and Wolf’s Fang Runway, supporting luxury Antarctic expeditions organised by British tour operator White Desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft, registered D-AUSY, previously flew for Lufthansa as D-AIHU and is approximately 18.5 years old. USC has signed a five-year agreement with White Desert to operate the Antarctic connection, marking a new chapter for the aircraft shortly after Lufthansa retired its remaining A340-600 fleet from Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lufthansa's
Photo: Mees Jansesn | Wikimedia Commons\nhttps:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Airbus_A340-600_Universal_Sky_Carrier_(USC)_-_D-AUSZ.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

USC Uses Former Lufthansa A340-600<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

USC acquired five former Lufthansa<\/a> Airbus A340-600 aircraft as part of its fleet expansion. However, the airline did not intend to return all five aircraft to commercial operations. One aircraft was retained as a source of spare parts at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, while two others were sold to a partial aircraft recycler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining two aircraft were selected for operational use. The former D-AIHU returned to Germany towards the end of October after undergoing major maintenance in Manila. USC subsequently registered it as D-AUSY and prepared it for its new assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft departed Germany for Cape Town on October 27, arriving in South Africa after a flight of approximately 11 hours and 26 minutes. Four days later, on October 31, it completed its first Antarctic flight to Wolf’s Fang Runway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operation is particularly notable because the A340-600 is a large long-haul passenger aircraft operating from a remote ice runway rather than a conventional commercial airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lufthansa's
Photo- tjdarmstadt; Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Five-Year Antarctic Contract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

USC operates the flights on behalf of White Desert, which organises premium tourist expeditions to Antarctica. The seasonal programme generally runs from November through February, when the operator transports visitors from Cape Town to its Antarctic facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway takes approximately five and a half hours. After landing, passengers continue to nearby expedition camps by ground transport or board smaller aircraft for journeys to more distant locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White Desert uses aircraft such as the Basler BT-67, a heavily modified version of the Douglas DC-3, and the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter for transportation within Antarctica. USC is responsible for the larger Airbus connection between South Africa<\/a> and the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By November 8, D-AUSY had completed three round-trip journeys to Wolf’s Fang Runway. The five-year agreement gives USC responsibility for an important part of White Desert’s seasonal passenger transportation operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Former
Photo: Andrew Mandemaker | Wikimedia Commons\nhttps:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mt_Herschel,_Antarctica,_Jan_2006.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Previous Operations to Antarctica<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

USC has taken over the Antarctic flights after Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly operated the service for White Desert during the previous five years. Hi Fly used Airbus A330-300<\/a> and A340-300 aircraft before introducing an A340-600 to the route in November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That aircraft made history as the first Airbus A340-600 to land in Antarctica. USC’s latest operations therefore continue an unusual application of large commercial passenger aircraft in one of the world’s most remote aviation environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The D-AUSY also carries a distinctive livery for its new assignment. Its tail features the USC logo, while the fuselage displays USC Aero branding on one side and White Desert lettering on the other, accompanied by a colourful world map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USC’s wider fleet includes an Airbus A340-300 registered D-AUSC and another A340-600 registered D-AUSZ. The second former Lufthansa A340-600, previously registered D-AIHV, remains in Manila for maintenance and is expected to receive the registration D-AUSX, Aero Telegraph<\/a> flagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The return of the former Lufthansa aircraft demonstrates how older four-engine widebodies can find specialised roles beyond traditional scheduled airline operations. For USC, the White Desert agreement provides a long-term assignment for its A340-600 fleet while supporting passenger access to Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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