National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has completed its first roundtrip flights between Puerto Natales, Chile, and King George Island in Antarctica.

The inaugural flights marked the launch of two new itineraries: “Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage” and “Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage,” both aboard the National Geographic Explorer. The new expeditions shorten travel time by bypassing one or both sea passages, allowing guests to spend more time in Antarctica.

Commenting on the inaugural return flight to Puerto Natales, Lindblad Expeditions Founder and CEO, Sven-Olof Lindblad, said: “We have considered incorporating the flight option for years, but we were concerned about the frequency of flight cancellations. In recent years, our partners have gained more experience, and reliability has significantly improved, so we are beyond excited to now offer more unique ways to explore Antarctica with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions than ever before.”

The completion of the first round-trip flights marks a historic milestone for the company, which has led Antarctic explorations since 1966.