Why do you see flights over the Arctic but almost never over Antarctica?
Planes favour Arctic routes over Antarctic ones due to shorter great circle paths, driven by Northern Hemisphere city layouts and high demand. Safety regulations, available diversion airports in the Arctic, and less extreme weather also contribute. Antarctica lacks the necessary infrastructure, demand, and favourable conditions for regular commercial flights, making it a riskier proposition.
Planes favour Arctic routes over Antarctic ones due to shorter great circle paths, driven by Northern Hemisphere city layouts and high demand. Safety regulations, available diversion airports in the Arctic, and less extreme weather also contribute. Antarctica lacks the necessary infrastructure, demand, and favourable conditions for regular commercial flights, making it a riskier proposition.
