Antarctica21, the world’s leading Antarctic air-cruise operator, announced the results of its 2025-26 expedition season. The company welcomed 2,847 travelers from 53 nationalities aboard its boutique expeditions, confirming the global reach of a model that flies travelers directly to Antarctica from Punta Arenas, Chile, bypassing the two-day Drake Passage crossing.
Across 42 voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and the Chilean Fjords, North American travelers accounted for 40% of the season’s travelers, and 60% came from the rest of the world. The company sold 92% of its berth inventory. Post-expedition surveys showed 99% of guests reported satisfaction with their experience, and an equal share would recommend Antarctica21 to a friend.
Sustainability remained embedded in operations, with progress on multiple fronts. Antarctica21 renewed its CarbonNeutral® certification for the seventh consecutive season. In partnership with HIF Global, the company completed a second season powering its Zodiac fleet aboard Magellan Explorer with synthetic e-fuel produced in Punta Arenas, the first use of this carbon-neutral fuel in Antarctic travel. Guests on board contributed over USD 100,000 for the Antarctica21 Foundation, supporting initiatives for the local community in Punta Arenas, Antarctic science programs, and educational projects related to the Seventh Continent. On the ground, the solar panel system at the company’s Explorers House expedition center, in Punta Arenas, supplied 52% of the facility’s total energy consumption during the season.
“Welcoming travelers from 53 countries confirms that the Antarctic air-cruise has become a global category. That growth carries responsibility, and this season's results show we are delivering on it. Expedition travel and environmental leadership can move forward together,” said Brigitte Lämmle, Sales & Marketing Director at Antarctica21. She added, “This season we also bid farewell to Ocean Nova, a vessel that shaped our story across 15 seasons and helped define the air-cruise experience as we know it.”
Building on the momentum of this successful 2025-26 season, Antarctica21 is preparing to welcome Magellan Discoverer into its fleet for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The new vessel is the first hybrid-electric polar ship built in South America, constructed at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile, the same yard that built its sister ship, Magellan Explorer. Magellan Discoverer features a state-of-the-art hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, enabling quieter navigation and reduced emissions in sensitive Antarctic waters. The addition of Magellan Discoverer completes Antarctica21’s owned fleet of purpose-built expedition vessels, allowing the company to shape every detail of the expedition experience from pre-departure at Explorers House through every moment aboard.
About Antarctica21
Since 2003, Antarctica21 has been the leading Antarctic air-cruise operator, offering a faster and more comfortable way to reach and explore the Antarctic Peninsula. With a maximum of 76 travelers per fly-cruise expedition, the company offers an intimate, boutique experience designed for meaningful time ashore and close-up exploration. Antarctica21 has been CarbonNeutral® certified since 2019. For more information, visit www.antarctica21.com.