January flights to Antarctica have been scrapped because Australia's airstrip there is melting, causing havoc with our transport to the frozen continent.

The $46 million Antarctic air link opened four years ago with the expectation of 20 flights to the Wilkins runway near Casey Station each season.

But two years ago there were just two flights and last season there were four.

Australian Antarctic Division chief Tony Fleming said six flights were planned for the coming months, but there were no plans for flights in January because it will be too warm.

"Once it gets to above minus five degrees in the ice, then there are safety parameters which mean we can't [land] aircraft on that," he said.

Landing a fully loaded plane is hard enough at the best of times - landing it on ice, which has developed a tendency to get a bit mushy, is nearly impossible.

"We've got a very big emphasis on safety and we won't use that runway when it becomes above a certain temperature, and minus five is the threshold," Mr Fleming said.

"Some way down in the ice, if it becomes above that temperature, we can't guarantee the structural integrity of the surface."

Long-term future

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The Wilkins runway is nearly 3,500 kilometres from Hobart and is used to get vital equipment, medical supplies, people and food to the continent.

While Australia can and does use the American runway at McMurdo Station, the problems that arise in January have prompted the Government to consider alternatives.

"We are looking at options constantly about our air link arrangements," Mr Fleming said.

Six flights are planned for the coming months, to carry about 80 people south and bring back about 140.

While it will be used in the cooler months, Mr Fleming has worries about the runway's long-term future.

"There are signs there's a long-term warming trend, global warming, and that will make it more difficult to operate this runway in the future," he said.

Aurora Australis

Melting ice is not the only problem in Antarctica at the moment.

While the runway experiences problems because the ice is a bit soft, Australia's supply ship, the Aurora Australis, is currently stuck because there is too much ice.

"What's happened is that a northerly [wind] has blown ice against the ship," Mr Fleming said.

"We are waiting for a change in the weather patterns, an increasing swell, to move that ice again.

"The ship is where it is supposed to be. It's undertaking a scientific investigation of the sea ice and the scientists are continuing to do their work.

"We're waiting for a change in the weather to break out that ice so that the Aurora can move to its next ice station."