Airlander 10 and a flight to the North Pole: price, route and timeline

A flight to the North Pole by airship takes not an hour, but two days. The Airlander 10 flies low, so you see the ice not through a tiny porthole, but in all its vastness.

The expedition is organized by the Swedish company OceanSky Cruises. It starts and finishes in Longyearbyen on Svalbard, there are eight cabins on board, and the price of a cabin for two starts at 2,000,000 Swedish kronor (as of 09/2026, OceanSky expedition page).

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How the expedition works

💡 In short:

• Starts and returns to Longyearbyen on Svalbard
• Two days in the air with a landing at the North Pole
• Eight cabins and up to sixteen passengers per flight
• Prices and dates: 09/2026, verified on the official OceanSky website

The expedition is designed for travelers who want to see the Arctic not from a ship's deck, but from the air.

• Who it's for: those who value a rare experience and a view of drifting ice from above
• Not for: those who need a fast and inexpensive way to reach the pole
• The catch: you can't choose the exact flight date, everything depends on the manufacturer's schedule

Who takes tourists to the pole

The expedition is organized by OceanSky Cruises, headquartered in Stockholm. Its goal is simple: to bring airships back to passenger aviation and show that long-haul routes can be quiet and nearly emission-free.

The project is based on a historic flight. On May 12, 1926, the airship Norge passed over the North Pole for the first time, and its crew was led by Roald Amundsen (as of 09/2026, history of the Norge on the OceanSky website). The Norge flew from Svalbard to Alaska and did not return. The new expedition also starts from Svalbard, but returns to Longyearbyen.

The company's founder, Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck, calls the project the first step toward regular Arctic flights. For now, this is not a tour in the usual sense: you're not offered a seat on a plane, but a fully inclusive journey.

Route and flight duration

The expedition starts in Longyearbyen, the northernmost city on the planet. From there, the airship heads north over drifting ice, lands at the North Pole, and returns the same way. The entire flight takes 48 hours (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website).

The season on Svalbard runs from March to October. The first flights, Pioneer, are planned for March and April, but they are invitation-only. Summer flights, Adventurer, run from May to October, and sign-up is open through a waiting list (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website).

The start date depends on the manufacturer's schedule. The Airlander 10 has not yet entered series production, so the company does not give exact dates. Keep in mind: you're not booking a ticket for a specific date, but a place on a future expedition.

Airlander 10: hybrid airship

The Airlander 10 is built by the British company Hybrid Air Vehicles. It's not a classic airship: the helium-filled envelope is supplemented with wings and a tail, so part of the lift comes from the oncoming airflow (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia on the Airlander 10).

The main advantage of this design is that the airship doesn't need a runway. It lands on flat snow, ice, or a site near a city where a plane can't land.

The first prototype took to the air in 2012, but the aircraft had to be rebuilt after a US military project was shut down. The manufacturer is now building a plant in Doncaster and promises production aircraft by 2028 (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia on development).

What's on board: cabins, a restaurant and a transparent floor

The flight is designed for sixteen passengers, accommodated in eight cabins with private bathrooms (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website).

On board there is a lounge area for relaxing, a bar and a restaurant. You're promised European cuisine and full service throughout the route.

The observation area deserves a special mention. Soft sofas sit on a transparent floor, so you can see the ice right under your feet. From the air, passengers watch whales at the ice edge and polar bears. The northern lights can only be seen on flights in March and April; from May through October the Arctic has polar day.

Arctic weather changes quickly, so the flight schedule is kept flexible. Even during the season, some days may not be suitable for departure, and you'll be told about that in advance.

How much the flight costs

The price starts at 2,000,000 Swedish kronor per cabin for two (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website). That's roughly 200 thousand dollars, and the final amount depends on the exchange rate at the time of payment.

Per passenger it works out to around 100 thousand dollars (as of 09/2026, OceanSky terms). The company calls the trip all-inclusive: meals, service and an overnight stay on board are included in the price.

At the project's launch, the price was quoted noticeably lower and a deposit of a few percent was taken. The terms have since changed, so check the exact amount and refund rules with the company itself.

How to get to Longyearbyen

You can only get to Svalbard by plane. Regular flights to Longyearbyen operate from Oslo and Tromsø, and the airport receives them year-round.

© Rob Oo from NL · CC BYPhoto: Rob Oo from NL, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The town is small, there are few hotels, and in high season rooms get booked up quickly. If you're planning a trip around a future airship flight, book accommodation together with your tickets. Otherwise the choice comes down to a couple of options for the dates you need.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When will the first flight to the North Pole take place?

There is no exact date. The company ties the launch to the manufacturer's schedule for the Airlander 10, and series deliveries are planned for 2028. The nearest Pioneer flights are planned for March and April, but you can only get on them by invitation (as of 09/2026, North Pole Expedition page).

How much does a seat on the airship cost?

A cabin for two starts at 2,000,000 Swedish kronor, which is about 200,000 dollars. Meals and service are already included in the price (as of 09/2026, OceanSky price list).

How long does the expedition last?

The flight takes 48 hours. A plane would cover this route in a couple of hours, but here speed is not the point, the journey itself is (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website).

What can you see from on board?

Passengers watch drifting ice, polar bears, Arctic foxes, and herds of reindeer over the islands of Svalbard. Whales can be seen near the ice edge. The northern lights occur only on flights in March and April; in summer the Arctic has polar day. A viewing area with a transparent floor enhances the effect (as of 09/2026, OceanSky website).

Is any special preparation required?

No. This is not a sports expedition, but a journey with service on board: you are accommodated in a cabin with a bathroom and fed in a restaurant. Check warm clothing for going out on the ice and equipment details with the organizer in advance.

In short: what is worth booking

A flight to the North Pole on the Airlander 10 is not like an ordinary flight. It is a two-day expedition with a landing on the ice, and while the series airship has not yet launched, dates keep shifting and the price remains high.

• If the airship itself matters to you: follow the Hybrid Air Vehicles schedule and join the OceanSky waiting list

• If you want to see the Arctic right now: choose flights to Svalbard and accommodation in Longyearbyen

• If your budget is limited: compare expedition cruises to the pole, they are cheaper and more accessible

You can look at hotels in Longyearbyen before the trip on Trip.com.