Lindblad Expeditions Holdings is expanding its presence in Antarctica with the acquisition of a majority stake in White Desert and aviation travel brand Echo Charlie.
White Desert flies clients into the remote interior of Antarctica, with itineraries that include trips to the Geographic South Pole and a visit to an Emperor penguin colony of more than 20,000 birds.
“While this is the largest transaction in the history of the company, it is much more than a business deal—it is a powerful partnership between two businesses that have spent decades pushing the boundaries of what experiential travel can be,” said Natalya Leahy, CEO of Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, in a media statement.
Leveraging their shared expertise, Lindblad Expeditions and White Desert see significant opportunities to expand White Desert’s offering—with the development of camps and guest experiences and bolstering their logistical capabilities.
Lindblad Expeditions will also support the development of Echo Charlie, a new aviation travel brand that will use a fully restored DC-3 to reach remote destinations and airstrips that are typically inaccessible by commercial aircraft.
“Echo Charlie delivers on what most of us only read about in childhood stories—flying to hidden places, uncovering the secrets of ancient cultures and experiencing the breathtakingly diverse landscapes,” said Leahy. “…We are about to enter a new chapter entirely—more awe-inspiring experiences to more guests in more places on this planet.”
Patrick Woodhead, a record-breaking polar explorer who founded White Desert in 2005, will serve as Chairman of White Desert and CEO of Echo Charlie, while also joining Lindblad Expeditions as Strategic Innovation Advisor.
White Desert and Echo Charlie will continue to operate as stand-alone brands under their existing leadership, while gaining access to Lindblad Expeditions’ resources and capabilities.
