A polar route is an aircraft route across the uninhabited polar ice cap regions. The term was originally applied to great circle navigation routes between Europe and the west coast of North America, which began to be flown routinely in the 1950s. Following several pioneering flights in the 1930s and 1940s, the first commercial polar route crossing was made by a Scandinavian Airlines System aircraft in 1954.
Facts
Established Year Route TypeTranspolar commercial aviation route 1 TerminiGreat circle routes across the polar ice cap regions, originally between Europe and North America and later extended to Asia 1 Operational StatusActive, Arctic polar routes are now common on airlines connecting Asian and North American cities 1 Operational Status
Operational Status (category) Sources
1. Wikipedia: Polar route
WikipediaIntroduction, on the first commercial polar crossing in 1954Quote, Introduction, on the first commercial polar crossing in 1954
After several pioneering flights in the 1930s and 1940s, the first commercial polar route crossing was made by an SAS aircraft in 1954.
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