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Hobart Airport

Coordinates: 42°50′12″S 147°30′36″E / 42.83667°S 147.51000°E / -42.83667; 147.51000
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For other uses, see Hobart Airport (disambiguation).

Hobart Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerQueensland Investment Corporation (35%)
Schiphol Group (35%)
CareSuper (30%)
OperatorHobart Airport Pty Ltd
ServesHobart
LocationCambridge, Tasmania, Australia
Opened1956; 68 years ago (1956)
Hub forQantasLink
Elevation AMSL13 ft / 4 m
Coordinates42°50′12″S 147°30′36″E / 42.83667°S 147.51000°E / -42.83667; 147.51000
Websitewww.hobartairport.com.au
Maps
Map
HBA/YMHB is located in Hobart
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB is located in Tasmania
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB is located in Australia
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB is located in Oceania
HBA/YMHB
HBA/YMHB
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 2,727 8,947 Asphalt
Statistics (2016–2017)
Passengers2,440,792
Aircraft operations27,120
Main terminal

Hobart Airport (IATA: HBA, ICAO: YMHB) is an airport located in Cambridge, 17 km (11 mi) north-east of the Hobart central business district. It is the principal airport of Tasmania.[4]

The Federal Government owned airport is operated by the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium under a 99-year lease.[5][6]

The airport maintains a conjoined international and domestic terminal. The major airlines servicing the airport are Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia operating domestic flights predominantly to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.[4] International flights to Auckland, New Zealand, operate two to three times weekly with Air New Zealand.

Due to the airport's southern location, Skytraders operates regular flights to Antarctica on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division using an Airbus A319.[6][7]

Hobart International Airport was opened in 1956 and privatised in 1988.[8] Occupying approximately 565 ha (1,400 acres) of land,[6] the airport is situated on a narrow peninsula. Take-offs and landings are inevitably directed over bodies of water regardless of approach or departure direction. The region immediately surrounding the airport remains largely unpopulated, which enables the airport to operate curfew-free services.[6]

In the 2018–19 financial year, the airport handled 2.6 million passenger movements, making it the ninth busiest airport in Australia.[4]

History

[edit]

Prior to the existence of the airport, the region was served by Cambridge Airport,[6] a small airport located close to the existing site. As air travel became more frequent and the number of flights increased, it was clear that Cambridge airport was only suitable for light aircraft. In June 1948, Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced the construction of a new AU£760,000 airport at Llanherne.[9] With Australia's continual interest in Antarctica, it was believed the southernmost airport of Australia would serve as an ideal base for heavy aircraft serving the region.[9] Hobart Airport was commissioned in 1956 as the primary regular public transport airport.[10] It was initially named Llanherne Airport, after the property on which it was built, but the name has since fallen into disuse. In its first full year of operation, the airport processed 120,086 passengers and 11,724 tonnes of freight, ranking fifth in Australia.[11]

By 1957, the airport's infrastructure comprised a small terminal building which remains at the south-eastern end of the current terminal, two freight hangars, a fuel depot, a timber weather station, and the airport administration office and works compound.[10] In 1964, the Federal Government upgraded and lengthened the runway to cater for jet aircraft. The runway was extended again in 1985[10] to cater for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Antonov 124 (albeit to a limited operating range).[10] The current domestic terminal building was officially opened on 28 July 1976[12] and the international terminal building in 1986.[10][13] The Federal Government corporatised the airport in January 1988 with the establishment of the Federal Airports Corporation.[14]

Privatisation

[edit]
Virgin Blue and Jetstar jets on the taxiway

In June 1998, Hobart Airport was privatised, with a 99-year lease purchased by a consortium of Hobart Ports Corporation, Hambros Australia and Airport Group International.[15][16][10][17] In 2004, the domestic terminal was redeveloped for the first time in its 30-year history. This development involved modernising the terminal, moving the retail shops to within the security screening area, realignment of the car park and moving the car rental facilities to a new building in the car park. In 2005, Hobart Airport experienced record annual passenger numbers[11] and it was decided to bring forward plans to upgrade the seating capacity of the airport. This work expanded the domestic terminal building over the tarmac by three metres to provide more departure lounge space.

In December 2007, the Tasmanian Government sold the TasPorts owned subsidiary for $350 million to the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium, a private consortium made up of Macquarie Capital (one of Macquarie Group's infrastructure funds) and Tasmania's public sector superannuation fund, the Tasplan.[6] The sale was in line with other state capital airport sell-offs, and Hobart airport was the last capital city airport remaining under government control. In October 2019, Macquarie Capital sold its stake to Queensland Investment Corporation and Schiphol Group.[18][19]

In February 2024, Hutchinson Builders began work to double the size of the terminal.[20] In July 2024, work began to upgrade the runway to accommodate Airbus A350 and Boeing 787s.[21][22]

Terminals

[edit]
The security checkpoint for departures

Hobart Airport has two passenger terminals. In 2007, the two terminals were connected in a $15 million[23] development to meet new Commonwealth legislation that requires all checked luggage to be X-rayed.[24] In 2008, the airport received a commendation for public architecture at the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, for the new terminal upgrade.[25] The airport currently maintains a combined international, domestic and general aviation apron. Provisions have been made to create a dedicated general aviation apron to the south of the one currently in use.[6] The 2022 draft masterplan confirms that the terminal building will be increasing in size from the current 12,000 m2 (129,167 sq ft) to around 23,000 m2 (247,570 sq ft) in the medium term.

Domestic terminal

[edit]

The current domestic terminal was opened in 1976 and has been expanded several times since.[6] All airlines share the same check in and departure area towards the south-eastern end of the building. A Qantas Club is located airside within the departures area, with provision for an expanded lounge for both Qantas and Virgin Australia in the master plan. The arrivals hall for all airlines is located at the north-western end of the building and contains two baggage carousels. The easternmost of the baggage carousels can be secured for use by international arrivals.[6] The domestic apron has six parking bays for narrow-body (Boeing 737/Airbus A320-sized) aircraft, with three additional parking bays located toward the northern end of the domestic apron.

International terminal

[edit]

The international terminal was opened in 1983 to facilitate Trans-Tasman air traffic, although, international flights began at the airport in December 1980 with Ansett and TAA offering services to New Zealand.[6][10] In 1985 the terminal was upgraded, along with the runway, to provide limited 747 operations.[6][10] Between 1998 and 2020, no regular international flights serviced the airport[16] after Air New Zealand suspended their operations from Christchurch.[26] Direct international flights recommenced in April, 2021 with Air New Zealand to Auckland operating twice weekly in winter and thrice weekly over summer. The terminal is also used by Skytraders for flights to Antarctica and occasional charter airline flights.[6][27] The terminal's apron has a single wide-body parking bay overlapping two narrow-body bays. This bay is able to accommodate large wide-body aircraft up to and including Boeing 747-400 and 777–200.[6] The international terminal's apron is used primarily for domestic operations and Skytraders' seasonal Antarctic flights as well as the Air New Zealand flights to Auckland.[6]

Freight

[edit]
Terminal cafe

There are two domestic freight areas operating at the airport, catering for Qantas, Toll Air and Virgin Australia.[6] The facility includes two buildings on a total area of approximately 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft), including the freight apron area. Qantas uses dedicated jet freight aircraft.[6] In January 2007, Virgin Blue and Toll Air opened a 1,000 m2 (10,764 sq ft) dedicated freight facility to the north of the international terminal. This new freight area has no dedicated apron of its own, but rather makes use of the cargo holds of the passenger aircraft already serving the airport.[6]

General aviation

[edit]
Skytraders Airbus A319LR at Hobart

The majority of Hobart's general aviation traffic makes use of the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome, which was sold in 1992 on the condition that it remain an airport until 2004.[6] Since that date, Hobart Airport has made plans for a large expansion catering for general aviation should the owners of Cambridge Aerodrome decide to use the land for other purposes.[6] This expansion would include a new runway and a general aviation apron located south of the existing Domestic Terminal.[6]

Runway

[edit]
Qantas Boeing 767-300 at Hobart Airport

Hobart Airport has one runway, 12/30, which is aligned north–west to south–east and is 2,727 by 45 m (8,947 by 148 ft).[6] The runway was extended in 2017 by 500 metres comprising a 350-metre extension at the southern end, a 150-metre lengthening to the northern end, and the relocation of the approach lights. The high strength flexible runway is constructed with an asphaltic concrete surface[10] and is suitable for all Code E aircraft operations up to and including Boeing 777/747 aircraft.[10] The current runway length is adequate for unrestricted operations on a Boeing 787-9 to China and Japan. The runway conforms to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's standards.

In 2009, Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd announced detailed plans for the airport with a new 20-year master plan.[6][28] Currently aircraft have to taxi along the runway and proceed to the parking apron via taxiways in the middle of the runway.[6] This has both capacity and safety implications for the airport, as the runway cannot be used whilst an aircraft is taxiing.[6] The plans provide for a parallel taxiway to the full length of runway.[6] When complete, aircraft landing on the runway would proceed to the end of the runway and exit via the parallel taxiway. This would allow for greater utilisation of the existing runway.[6]

The airport purchased land from the Tasmanian Government in the southern part of the airport for future development of operational facilities.[16][10] This additional area would allow for a short runway for general aviation aircraft, either parallel to the main runway along the southern end of the eastern boundary of the airport, or a cross runway[16] towards the southern end of the main runway. The alternative second runway would provide an opportunity to improve the operational management of the lighter categories of aircraft. However, the second runway is not likely to be developed any time soon, because the existing runway is under-utilised.[10]

Other facilities

[edit]

Hotel

[edit]

In December 2005, prominent Hobart developer Ali Sultan proposed a four star, 60-room hotel/motel for the airport.[29] The hotel, named the Quality Hotel Hobart Airport, was opened on 1 December 2008. The hotel comprises 78 rooms, a restaurant/café and a number of conference and meeting spaces.[30] The hotel employs 25 people.

Big box development

[edit]

Early in 2006, the airport announced plans to build a Direct Factory Outlet, covering an area of 18,000 m2 (190,000 sq ft),[31][32] which would have made it the largest of its kind in Australia. Austexx, a Melbourne-based company was the main investor in the $100 million project.[33]

While the Tasmanian Government supported the project, believing the Direct Factory Outlet would drive retail trade growth, the Hobart City Council and a large amount of retail shop owners in the Hobart central business district expressed fears of losing business.[33] Concern was also expressed about the big box being built on commonwealth land and therefore escaping the state planning laws.[33] In 2008, plans for the project were submitted to the Federal Government for assessment. Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss gave approval on condition the outlet centre was cut by almost half to 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft),[31][34] prompting Austexx to walk away from the proposal.[31] In February 2008, Austexx' chief executive Geoff Porz confirmed the Direct Factory Outlet and Homemaker Hub project was back on,[35] however Austexx went into receivership in 2010,[36] and as of 2023 the site remains undeveloped.

Cold storage and warehousing

[edit]

In December 2018 Link Logistics International started a cold storage and warehousing facility at the Hobart Airport. The cool rooms have a height of eight metres, which is ideal for block stacking pallets. Since opening the cold storage, Link Logistics International Pty Ltd has provided temperature-controlled storage solutions for customers wanting short-term seasonal storage to long-term storage. Storage has been provided to the industry from various sectors, including seafood, viticulture, stone fruit, berries, vegetable processors, craft beer, poultry, wine, ice cream, and restaurateurs wanting a larger storage alternative.[37]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
Routes flown from Hobart Airport as of April 2021. Colour coding is for the airline if only a single carrier flies the route: Qantas (red), Jetstar (orange), Air New Zealand (black), Sharp Airlines (blue), multiple airlines (grey).
AirlinesDestinations
Air New Zealand Seasonal: Auckland[38][39]
Jetstar Adelaide,[40] Brisbane, Gold Coast,[41] Melbourne, Sydney
Link Airways Canberra[42]
Qantas Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Seasonal: Perth[42]
QantasLink Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Seasonal: Adelaide,[43] Canberra[44]
Sharp Airlines Burnie, Flinders Island, King Island, Launceston
Skytraders Seasonal Charter: Wilkins Runway
Virgin Australia Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Seasonal: Adelaide[45]
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Perth[45]

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Cathay Cargo Seasonal Charter: Hong Kong,[46] Melbourne,[citation needed] Sydney[citation needed]
Qantas Freight Launceston,[citation needed] Melbourne [citation needed]
Pionair Australia Seasonal charter: Sydney[citation needed]

Traffic and statistics

[edit]
Busiest domestic routes
(year ending December 2022)[47]
Rank Airport Passengers
(thousands)		 % change
1 Melbourne 1,130,767 Increase 146.2%
2 Sydney 649,771 Increase 153.3%
3 Brisbane 291,200 Increase 13.1%
Annual passenger statistics for Hobart Airport[48]
Year Domestic International Total Change
1998 855,934 2,690 858,624 Increase 2.7%
1999 877,992 - 877,992 Increase 2.3%
2000 927,957 - 927,957 Increase 5.7%
2001 996,179 - 996,179 Increase 7.4%
2002 947,682 - 947,682 Decrease -4.9%
2003 1,101,555 - 1,101,555 Increase 16.2%
2004 1,380,849 - 1,380,849 Increase 25.4%
2005 1,600,185 - 1,600,185 Increase 15.9%
2006 1,617,810 - 1,617,810 Increase 1.1%
2007 1,663,596 - 1,663,596 Increase 2.8%
2008 1,830,870 - 1,830,870 Increase 10.1%
2009 1,874,459 - 1,874,459 Increase 2.4%
2010 1,882,092 - 1,882,092 Increase 0.4%
2011 1,844,681 - 1,844,681 Decrease -2.0%
2012 1,919,026 - 1,919,026 Increase 4.0%
2013 2,091,706 - 2,091,706 Increase 9.0%
2014 2,127,981 - 2,127,981 Increase 1.7%
2015 2,238,432 - 2,238,432 Increase 5.2%
2016 2,378,137 - 2,378,137 Increase 6.2%
2017 2,510,343 - 2,510,343 Increase 5.6%
2018 2,676,628 - 2,676,628 Increase 6.6%
2019 2,781,739 - 2,781,739 Increase 3.9%
2020 879,663 - 879,663 Decrease -68.4%
2021 1,261,289 4,480 1,265,769 Increase 43.9%
2022 2,289,011 14,527 2,303,538 Increase 82.0%

Ground transport

[edit]
Hobart Airport in relation to Hobart

Hobart Airport has a car park that caters for short, medium and long term parking. There is also a well-serviced taxi rank and limousine service operating at the airport. There are numerous car rental operators.

Public transport had not been a high use alternative to private transport for those travelling to and from the airport.[6] A SkyBus service was launched in June 2018,[49] which operates between the Hobart central business district and the airport. The shuttle departs outside the terminal every 30 minutes transferring passengers to the city.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ YMHB – Hobart (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024
  2. ^ Movements at Australian Airports Airservices Australia June 2017
  3. ^ Airport traffic data Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics
  4. ^ a b c Air passenger movements through capital and non-capital city airports to 2030–31 Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics 2012
  5. ^ Hobart Airport sold ABC News 13 December 2007
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab 2009 Hobart Airport Master Plan Hobart Airport
  7. ^ Garrett launches flights to Antarctic The Australian 11 January 2008
  8. ^ Our History Hobart Airport
  9. ^ a b Airport proposed for Hobart Canberra Times 2 June 1948 page 1
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 2004 Master Plan Hobart International Airport
  11. ^ a b Annual report for year ended 30 June 2008 Hobart International Airport
  12. ^ The Architecture History Blog (2018). "Australian airport architecture then and now by architect in Hobart". Australian Architecture History.
  13. ^ Airlines Australian Transport October 1976 page 9
  14. ^ Anne Graham (2003). Managing Airports. Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 31–34. ISBN 0-7506-5917-3. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  15. ^ [New airport leases announced Australian Aviation issue 139 May 1998 page 21
  16. ^ a b c d "Avline13" (PDF). Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics. December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  17. ^ "Hobart Airport". International Airport Guide. 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  18. ^ Royal Schiphol Group acquires a stake in Hobart International Airport Schiphol Group 1 October 2019
  19. ^ Consortium acquires 70% interest in Hobart International Airport Infrastructure Magazine 2 October 2019
  20. ^ Hobart Airport’s $200 million terminal upgrade takes off for 2027 completion Pulse Tasmania 23 February 2024
  21. ^ $130m Hobart Airport runway upgrade to open doors to more direct international destinations Pulse Tasmania 1 May 2024
  22. ^ Work begins on Hobart's $130m runway upgrade Australian Aviation 19 July 2024
  23. ^ "$15m airport revamp security-driven". The Mercury.
  24. ^ "Redevelopment plan PDF" (PDF). Hobart International Airport. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2006.
  25. ^ "Chinese Government Asks Nepal to Boost Security Screening at Tribhuvan International Airport". thehimalayantimes. 2014.
  26. ^ Hobart Australian Aviation issue 143 September 1998 page 22
  27. ^ "Plane mystery solved: Hawaiians jet in to sample Tassie". The Mercury. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  28. ^ "Airport Set For Boom Travel". The Mercury. 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  29. ^ "$8m motel complex for airport". Brand Tasmania. 2006. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  30. ^ "Quality Hotel Hobart Airport". Quality Hotel Hobart Airport. 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  31. ^ a b c "Unhappy developer pulls out of DFO". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  32. ^ "Development Plan" (PDF). Hobart International Airport. 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2006. [dead link‍]
  33. ^ a b c "Future of Controversial Big Box in Federal Hands". The Mercury.
  34. ^ "direct factory outrage". factory outlet shopping. 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  35. ^ "DFO to go ahead". ABC News. 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  36. ^ Bachelard, Michael (22 August 2010). "DFO carve-up to pay banks". The Age. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  37. ^ "Link Logistics International". Link Logistics. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Air New Zealand NS24 Selected International Service Changes – 26DEC23". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  39. ^ Air New Zealand to halt Hobart flights due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues Stuff 3 November 2023
  40. ^ Jetstar announces new direct flights from Hobart to Adelaide Jetstar 7 August 2017
  41. ^ "Jetstar to resume Gold Coast – Hobart service from Dec 2020 | Routes". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  42. ^ a b Hobart-Perth flights kick off with Qantas as state sees influx of tourists with borders reopening The Mercury 3 November 2020
  43. ^ Qantas adds seven new routes and puts Dreamliner on domestic Qantas 23 May 2021
  44. ^ Qantas adds three new routes from Canberra Qantas 6 November 2020
  45. ^ a b "Virgin Australia launches more Tasmanian Services with $49 mega flight sale". Virgin Australia. 21 September 2021.
  46. ^ "'Game changer' to get fresh Tassie produce into Asia". The Mercury.
  47. ^ Domestic Aviation activity January 2022 Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics 2022
  48. ^ Traffic Data 1985 to 2022 Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics
  49. ^ SkyBus soars into Hobart SkyBus 20 June 2018
[edit]

Media related to Hobart Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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