Mike Pero (Managing Director of SafeKiwi Escrow) will charter a Boeing 747 in January for 307 people who wish to travel to Antarctica to pay their respects to the victims of the Erebus Disaster thirty years ago.

[Related: Air NZ Disturbed By Erebus "Stunt"]

The Air New Zealand McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, Flight 901, crashed into Mount Erebus on 28 November 1979, killing all 257 passengers and crew on board. Mike Pero said the trip will primarily be for family and friends of the Erebus Disaster victims who would like to pay their final tributes.

The aircraft will not land but will spend a couple of hours in the region. The flight will be open to the general public and is planned for Sunday 31 January. It will leave Auckland at about 8am and return about 12 hours later.

Pero said he was moved by the stories of those who had friends and relatives on board. "Like many Kiwis I can remember where I was when I heard the news of the accident," he said.

"When I saw that only six family members of the victims were getting to go down to commemorate this anniversary, I was moved to do something for them.

"I was approached by another party from Auckland, who is in the travel business, to see if I could assist," he said.

"This is not a commercial venture, in fact it is unlikely that it will make any margin at all. I am an aviation enthusiast and I see the trip as something that I can do to help out a group of people who still want closure thirty years on.

"It will be a very special trip and we will be carrying out a number of formalities on board over Mt Erebus in memory of those who lost their lives." Pero says a number of special guests will be invited on the trip South, including the Prime Minister, and senior executives from Air New Zealand.

Tickets will range from $1399 to $8,600 (plus taxes if applic) depending on seating preferences. There will be seven options ranging from economy centre aisle seats to First Class. Deposit is $400 to hold a ticket. The balance of the ticket is due in December.

For information, or to make a booking go to www.antarcticflight.co.nz