For a while, only smaller planes have been able to make it to the icy continent. Short runways, rough weather conditions, and many other challenges have thwarted a would-be flier. But a Norwegian airliner has just made aviation history by landing its Boeing 787 on the sixth continent, reports CNN. The flight, operated by Norse Atlantic Airways and named Everglades, landed at the Troll Airfield in Queen Maud Land on Wednesday morning. It’s the first time that a Dreamliner, a widebody aircraft carrying up to 330 passengers, has made it to the icy continent.

The airliner departed Oslo on November 13 for its journey to Antarctica. It briefly stopped in Cape Town before continuing toward the Troll research station. The flight carried 45 passengers, including scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute, and 12 tons of equipment to the ice continent.

The Boeing 787-9 registered LN-FNC, nicknamed Everglades, landed at the Troll Airfield in Antarctica on November 15 around 2:01 a.m. This was no ordinary passenger flight, as the airplane was contracted by the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aircontact, Scandinavia’s largest airbroker firm, to transport essential equipment and scientists to the remote Troll research station in Queen Maud Land.

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During the trip, the airplane’s location could be tracked via various tracking sites such as Flightradar24. The Dreamliner made the round trip from Oslo to Cape Town and then back to Antarctica without needing to refuel, thanks to its impressive fuel efficiency. The specialized cargo space also makes the Dreamliner a perfect aircraft for flights to Antarctica, Norse Atlantic says in a press release.

While there is a long history of flights to Antarctica, most were performed by military planes or smaller, narrow-body commercial planes such as Airbus A340s and Boeing 737s. This latest flight is a historic milestone for the company and an essential step in facilitating the logistics needed for future research in Antarctica.

The airliner, with its impressive load capacity and outstanding fuel efficiency, will allow us to provide more and better flights to Antarctica than we ever could before,” Norse Atlantic CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming more passengers and cargo on these exciting new routes.”

The Norwegian low-cost carrier was founded in February 2021 and currently operates ten 787-9s, with two more on order. Its route network includes European, Asian, and United States destinations. It is a Star Alliance airline network member and has a codeshare agreement with Air Canada. The airline plans to expand its presence in North America, with an expected service launch from Los Angeles to Toronto this year. The airliner will have a three-class configuration, seating between 174 and 314 passengers. This will be the fifth and final Boeing 787-9 to fly to North America from Los Angeles.