Hobart International Airport
Encyclopedia
Hobart International Airport is an airport located in Cambridge
, 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) east of Hobart
, Tasmania. The Federal government
owned airport is currently being operated on a 99 year lease to the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium. The airport has seen strong passenger growth in the last few years, primarily due to the increase in services from low-cost carrier
s. In the financial year of 2008–09, the airport handled 1,869,262 passengers and 14,285 air movements, making it the ninth busiest in relation to passenger numbers and currently ranks as the second fastest growing airport in Australia.
The airport maintains a conjoined international and domestic terminal. The major domestic airlines that serve the airport are Qantas
, Jetstar
, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways
, all who are currently running flights on the main route to Melbourne Airport
. At present, all the airlines operating at the airport utilise narrow-body aircraft
. The airport plays a strategic role due to its location – Skytraders
conducts regular flights to Antarctica on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division
using an Airbus A319. Although the airport has not had a regular scheduled international passenger service since 1998 (to Christchurch
, New Zealand), the airport maintains customs and immigration facilities for aircraft entering the country.
Hobart International Airport was opened 1956, when a review found the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome
was unsuitable for Hobart's future air transport needs. Occupying approximately 565 hectares (1,396.1 acre) of land, the airport is sited on a narrow peninsula, take-off and landing are inevitably directed over bodies of water regardless of approach/departure direction. This region-especially that immediately surrounding the Airport, remains largely unpopulated which enables the airport to operate curfew
-free services.
, 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 approval for construction of a new AU£
760,000 airport at Llanherne. With Australia's continual interest in Antarctica, it was believed the southern-most airport of Australia would serve as an ideal base for heavy aircraft serving the region. Hobart Airport was commissioned in 1956 as the primary regular public transport airport. 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. By 1957, the airport's infrastructure comprised a small terminal building which remains at the southeastern end of the current terminal, two freight hangar
s, fuel depot, timber weather station
, and the airport administration office and works compound. In 1964, the Federal Government upgraded and lengthened the runway to cater for jet aircraft
. The runway was extended again in 1985 to cater for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747
and Antonov 124 (albeit to a limited operating range). The current domestic terminal building was officially opened in April 1976 and the international terminal building opened in 1986. The Federal Government corporatised the airport in January 1988 with the creation of the Federal Airports Corporation
.
-owned company operated by the Hobart Ports Corporation
. 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 new building in the car park. During 2005, Hobart Airport experienced record annual passenger numbers and it was then decided to bring forward plans to upgrade the seating capacity of the airport. This work involved expanding the domestic terminal building over the tarmac by three metres to provide more departure lounge space.
During December 2007, the Tasmanian Government sold the Tasmanian Ports Corporation
-owned subsidiary for A$
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 Retirement Benefits Fund. The sale was in line with other state capital airport sell-offs, and was the last capital airport remaining in government control.
. During 2007 the two terminals were connected in a 15 million dollar development to meet new federal security laws that requires all checked luggage to be X-ray
ed. 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. 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.
and Jetstar Airways
arrivals area while the north-western international end of the building is used by Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways Australia
. The domestic apron has four parking bays for narrow-body
(Boeing 737
/Airbus A320
-sized) aircraft, overlaid by two positions for small wide-body
(Boeing 767
-sized) aircraft.
air traffic. During 1985 the terminal was upgraded along with the runway to provide limited 747 operations. There have been no regular international flights served by the airport since 1998, when Air New Zealand
suspended operations to Christchurch, however the operators of the airport have expressed an interest in resuming international flights in the future. At present the Terminal is used by Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways for domestic arrivals, Skytraders
for flights to Antarctica and occasional charter airline flights, there being two such flights, by First Choice Airways
, in 2009. 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
. The international Terminal's baggage carousel
and apron are currently used for domestic operations as well as Skytraders' operations.
, Toll Air
and Virgin Australia. The Australian air Express facility is located south of the Domestic terminal. The facility includes two buildings on a total area of approximately 10000 square metres (107,639.1 sq ft), including the freight apron area. Australian air Express uses dedicated jet freight aircraft. In January 2007, Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) and Toll Air opened a 1000 square metres (10,763.9 sq ft) dedicated freight facility to the north of the international terminal. Currently 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. The operators of the airport have expressed interest in having all the freight handled from this new northern area, however, due to uncertainty with the Tasmanian freight market, it is unknown when this may occur.
, Rotor lift and Sky Trek. The majority of Hobart's general aviation
traffic makes use of the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome
, which was sold in 1999 on the condition that it remain an airport until 2004. 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. This expansion would include a new runway and a general aviation apron located south of the existing Domestic Terminal.
surface and is adequate for unrestricted operations up to and including Boeing 767
and Airbus A300
aircraft. Boeing 777
/747
aircraft can operate with a weight restriction. The current runway length is adequate for direct flights to New Zealand, Cairns
, Perth
, Singapore and Jakarta
. For longer range operations, a weight limit is imposed for aircraft landing and on take off. The runway conforms to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
's standards.
Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd has announced detailed plans for the airport within its new master plan
until 2029. Currently aircraft landing on the runway have to taxi
along the runway and proceed to the parking apron via taxiway
s in the middle of the runway. This has both capacity and safety implications for the airport, as the runway cannot be used whilst an aircraft is taxiing on the runway. In the coming years, the airport plans on providing a parallel taxiway to the full length of runway. When complete, aircraft landing on the Runway can proceed to the end of the runway and exit via the parallel taxiway. This would allow for greater utilization of the existing runway.
The landing length required at Hobart for a Boeing 747 at maximum operational landing weight is 2400 metres (7,874 ft), a minimum runway extension of 150 metres (492.1 ft) would be beneficial to the operation of the airport. With either end of the runway surrounded by roads, the possibility for extending the runway is limited; however, a geometric exercise was undertaken to determine the possible runway extension in the future. This exercise indicated the potential to extend the runway to 2530 metres (8,300.5 ft), by 90 metres (295.3 ft) meters to the north and 190 metres (623.4 ft) to the south – an extension of approximately 280 metres (918.6 ft) meters. However, unless future air traffic demands it, there are no immediate plans to extend the runway.
The airport has purchased land from the Tasmanian Government in the southern part of the airport for future development of further operational facilities. This additional area would allow for a short runway for general aviation aircraft. The purchase would allow a runway either parallel to the main runway along the southern end of the eastern boundary of the airport, or a cross runway 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, these capabilities will most likely be developed in the relatively distant future. The second runway is not likely to be developed any time soon, because the existing runway is presently under-utilised.
, 60-room hotel/motel for the airport. 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. The hotel employs 25 people.
The development would also provide car parking for over 2,000 cars and road works will most likely be conducted on Holyman Avenue to ensure that traffic flow into the airport itself is not affected. While the Tasmanian Government has thrown its support into the project and believes the Direct Factory Outlet will drive retail trade growth, the Hobart City Council
and a large amount of retail shop owners in the Hobart Central Business District
have expressed fear of losing business. Concern was also expressed about the big box being built on commonwealth land and therefore escaping the state planning laws.
During April 2007, the Hobart Airport's public relations firm confirmed they had submitted plans of the project ('including rejections') to the Federal Government for assessment. When Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss
assessed the project, he gave approval on condition the outlet centre was cut by almost half to 10000 square metres (107,639.1 sq ft), prompting Austexx to walk away from the proposal. However, in February 2008, Austexx' chief executive Geoff Porz confirmed the Direct Factory Outlet and Homemaker Hub was back on, going as far as to say that Hobart was "grossly under-supplied with shopping facilities".
. In 2011 the airport was seen again in The Hunter
, starring Willem Dafoe
.
also operates from the airport and a specialist carrier operates to the Australian Antarctic Territory
during summer.
Previous Airlines to fly from the airport include Ansett Australia
, Compass Airlines
and Air New Zealand
.
Jetstar is considering expanding its services to Hobart in the future. Possible new routes include Adelaide and Perth or a return of a direct New Zealand service.
and limousine
service operating at the airport. There are numerous car rental
operators at the airport, these include Hertz
, Avis
, Budget
, Europcar
, Thrifty
, Red Spot, Bargain Car Rentals, Rent For Less, Britz Maui, Tasmanian Camper Van Rentals and Cruisin Tasmania. Public transport has not been a high use alternative to private transport for those travelling to and from the airport. There is a bus service that operates between the Hobart Central Business District
and the airport for every departure. The shuttle departs outside the terminal after the arrival of every flight transferring passengers to the city. The primary operator for bus services is Tasmanian Redline Coaches
.
Cambridge, Tasmania
Cambridge is a suburb in the greater area of Hobart, capital of Tasmania, Australia. It is in the City of Clarence Local Government Area. The suburb is situated in close proximity with Hobart International Airport and the Cambridge Aerodrome, and is approximately 18 km to Hobart via the Tasman...
, 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) east of Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania. The Federal government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
owned airport is currently being operated on a 99 year lease to the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium. The airport has seen strong passenger growth in the last few years, primarily due to the increase in services from low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
s. In the financial year of 2008–09, the airport handled 1,869,262 passengers and 14,285 air movements, making it the ninth busiest in relation to passenger numbers and currently ranks as the second fastest growing airport in Australia.
The airport maintains a conjoined international and domestic terminal. The major domestic airlines that serve the airport are Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, Jetstar
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
, all who are currently running flights on the main route to Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
. At present, all the airlines operating at the airport utilise narrow-body aircraft
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
. The airport plays a strategic role due to its location – Skytraders
Skytraders
Skytraders is an Australian airline. It is headquartered at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, Australia. It has no routes of its own, but operates to support the Australian Antarctic Division's scientific research programme in Antarctica.- Fleet :...
conducts regular flights to Antarctica on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
using an Airbus A319. Although the airport has not had a regular scheduled international passenger service since 1998 (to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand), the airport maintains customs and immigration facilities for aircraft entering the country.
Hobart International Airport was opened 1956, when a review found the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome
Cambridge Aerodrome
Cambridge Aerodrome , also known as Cambridge Airport, is a minor airport serving Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is located only a few kilometres from the primary airport, Hobart International Airport....
was unsuitable for Hobart's future air transport needs. Occupying approximately 565 hectares (1,396.1 acre) of land, the airport is sited on a narrow peninsula, take-off and landing are inevitably directed over bodies of water regardless of approach/departure direction. This region-especially that immediately surrounding the Airport, remains largely unpopulated which enables the airport to operate curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
-free services.
Beginning
Prior to the existence of the airport, the region was served by Cambridge AirportCambridge Aerodrome
Cambridge Aerodrome , also known as Cambridge Airport, is a minor airport serving Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is located only a few kilometres from the primary airport, Hobart International Airport....
, 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
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
announced the approval for construction of a new AU£
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
760,000 airport at Llanherne. With Australia's continual interest in Antarctica, it was believed the southern-most airport of Australia would serve as an ideal base for heavy aircraft serving the region. Hobart Airport was commissioned in 1956 as the primary regular public transport airport. 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. By 1957, the airport's infrastructure comprised a small terminal building which remains at the southeastern end of the current terminal, two freight hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s, fuel depot, timber weather station
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
, and the airport administration office and works compound. In 1964, the Federal Government upgraded and lengthened the runway to cater for jet aircraft
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
. The runway was extended again in 1985 to cater for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and Antonov 124 (albeit to a limited operating range). The current domestic terminal building was officially opened in April 1976 and the international terminal building opened in 1986. The Federal Government corporatised the airport in January 1988 with the creation of the Federal Airports Corporation
Federal Airports Corporation
The Federal Airports Corporation was a business enterprise of the Government of Australia responsible for the operation of major passenger airports in Australia. At the beginning of 1997 the corporation operated 22 airports and handled over 60 million passenger annually.It was established by an...
.
Privatisation
On 11 June 1998, the airport was privatised on a 99-year lease, being purchased by Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd, a Tasmanian GovernmentGovernment of Tasmania
The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
-owned company operated by the Hobart Ports Corporation
Tasmanian Ports Corporation
The Tasmanian Ports Corporation is a registered, privately-held state owned corporation wholly owned by the Government of Tasmania...
. 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
Car rental
A car rental or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time for a fee...
facilities to new building in the car park. During 2005, Hobart Airport experienced record annual passenger numbers and it was then decided to bring forward plans to upgrade the seating capacity of the airport. This work involved expanding the domestic terminal building over the tarmac by three metres to provide more departure lounge space.
During December 2007, the Tasmanian Government sold the Tasmanian Ports Corporation
Tasmanian Ports Corporation
The Tasmanian Ports Corporation is a registered, privately-held state owned corporation wholly owned by the Government of Tasmania...
-owned subsidiary for A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
350 million to the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium, a private consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
made up of Macquarie Capital (one of Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group Limited is a global investment banking and diversified financial services group, providing banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services to institutional, corporate and retail clients and counterparties around the world...
's infrastructure funds) and Tasmania's public sector superannuation fund, the Retirement Benefits Fund. The sale was in line with other state capital airport sell-offs, and was the last capital airport remaining in government control.
Terminals
Hobart Airport has two passenger terminalsAirport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
. During 2007 the two terminals were connected in a 15 million dollar development to meet new federal security laws that requires all checked luggage to be X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
ed. 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. The airport currently maintains a combined international, domestic and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
apron
Airport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
. Provisions have been made to create a dedicated general aviation apron to the south of the one currently in use.
Domestic Terminal
The current Domestic Terminal was opened in 1976, and has been expanded several times since then. All airlines share the same check in and departure area in the centre of the building. The south-eastern end of the building contains a Qantas Club and serves as the QantasQantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
arrivals area while the north-western international end of the building is used by Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
. The domestic apron has four parking bays for narrow-body
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
(Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
/Airbus A320
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
-sized) aircraft, overlaid by two positions for small wide-body
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
(Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
-sized) aircraft.
International Terminal
The International Terminal was opened in 1983 to facilitate Trans-TasmanTrans-Tasman
Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily in Australia and New Zealand, which signifies an interrelationship between both countries. Its name originates from the Tasman Sea which lies between the two countries...
air traffic. During 1985 the terminal was upgraded along with the runway to provide limited 747 operations. There have been no regular international flights served by the airport since 1998, when Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
suspended operations to Christchurch, however the operators of the airport have expressed an interest in resuming international flights in the future. At present the Terminal is used by Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways for domestic arrivals, Skytraders
Skytraders
Skytraders is an Australian airline. It is headquartered at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, Australia. It has no routes of its own, but operates to support the Australian Antarctic Division's scientific research programme in Antarctica.- Fleet :...
for flights to Antarctica and occasional charter airline flights, there being two such flights, by First Choice Airways
First Choice Airways
First Choice Airways was a British charter airline of European tour operator TUI Travel PLC, based in Crawley, England. It flew to more than 60 destinations worldwide from 14 UK and Irish airports. 70% of the airline's services were operated for its parent company, rising to 85% in the summer...
, in 2009. 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
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
and 777–200
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
. The international Terminal's baggage carousel
Baggage carousel
A baggage carousel is a device, generally at an airport, that delivers checked luggage to the passengers at the baggage claim area at their final destination. Not all airports use these devices...
and apron are currently used for domestic operations as well as Skytraders' operations.
Freight
There are two domestic freight areas operating at the airport, catering for Australian air ExpressAustralian Air Express
Australian air Express is a logistics company based in Melbourne, Australia. It operates freight-only services within Australia using leased Qantas, National Jet Systems, and Pel-Air aircraft and a fleet of land vehicles...
, Toll Air
Toll Priority
Toll Priority is a logistics company and cargo airline based in Mascot, New South Wales, Australia with operations from Melbourne, Sydney , Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Darwin....
and Virgin Australia. The Australian air Express facility is located south of the Domestic terminal. The facility includes two buildings on a total area of approximately 10000 square metres (107,639.1 sq ft), including the freight apron area. Australian air Express uses dedicated jet freight aircraft. In January 2007, Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) and Toll Air opened a 1000 square metres (10,763.9 sq ft) dedicated freight facility to the north of the international terminal. Currently 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. The operators of the airport have expressed interest in having all the freight handled from this new northern area, however, due to uncertainty with the Tasmanian freight market, it is unknown when this may occur.
General aviation
Hobart Airport is currently served by TasairTasair
Tasair is an airline based in Hobart and Devonport, Australia. It operates a regional network across Tasmania.- History :The company was established in 1965. It began as a air charter, maintenance and flying school operation...
, Rotor lift and Sky Trek. The majority of Hobart's general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
traffic makes use of the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome
Cambridge Aerodrome
Cambridge Aerodrome , also known as Cambridge Airport, is a minor airport serving Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is located only a few kilometres from the primary airport, Hobart International Airport....
, which was sold in 1999 on the condition that it remain an airport until 2004. 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. This expansion would include a new runway and a general aviation apron located south of the existing Domestic Terminal.
Runway
Hobart Airport has one runway, 12/30, which is aligned north–west to south–east, is 2251 metres (7,385.2 ft) long and 45 metres (147.6 ft) wide. The high strength flexible runway was constructed with an asphaltic concreteAsphalt concrete
Asphalt concrete is a composite material commonly used in construction projects such as road surfaces, airports and parking lots. It consists of asphalt and mineral aggregate mixed together, then laid down in layers and compacted...
surface and is adequate for unrestricted operations up to and including Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
and Airbus A300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
aircraft. Boeing 777
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
/747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft can operate with a weight restriction. The current runway length is adequate for direct flights to New Zealand, Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Singapore and Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
. For longer range operations, a weight limit is imposed for aircraft landing and on take off. The runway conforms to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian national aviation authority , the government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of civil aviation.-History:...
's standards.
Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd has announced detailed plans for the airport within its new master plan
Master plan
A master plan has many meanings, it can refer to:Generally it may be used for serious plans or strategies, see:*Strategy**Strategic planning**Comprehensive planning**Blueprint...
until 2029. Currently aircraft landing on the runway have to taxi
Taxiing
Taxiing refers to the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or push-back where the aircraft is moved by a tug...
along the runway and proceed to the parking apron via taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
s in the middle of the runway. This has both capacity and safety implications for the airport, as the runway cannot be used whilst an aircraft is taxiing on the runway. In the coming years, the airport plans on providing a parallel taxiway to the full length of runway. When complete, aircraft landing on the Runway can proceed to the end of the runway and exit via the parallel taxiway. This would allow for greater utilization of the existing runway.
The landing length required at Hobart for a Boeing 747 at maximum operational landing weight is 2400 metres (7,874 ft), a minimum runway extension of 150 metres (492.1 ft) would be beneficial to the operation of the airport. With either end of the runway surrounded by roads, the possibility for extending the runway is limited; however, a geometric exercise was undertaken to determine the possible runway extension in the future. This exercise indicated the potential to extend the runway to 2530 metres (8,300.5 ft), by 90 metres (295.3 ft) meters to the north and 190 metres (623.4 ft) to the south – an extension of approximately 280 metres (918.6 ft) meters. However, unless future air traffic demands it, there are no immediate plans to extend the runway.
The airport has purchased land from the Tasmanian Government in the southern part of the airport for future development of further operational facilities. This additional area would allow for a short runway for general aviation aircraft. The purchase would allow a runway either parallel to the main runway along the southern end of the eastern boundary of the airport, or a cross runway 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, these capabilities will most likely be developed in the relatively distant future. The second runway is not likely to be developed any time soon, because the existing runway is presently under-utilised.
Hotel
In December 2005, prominent Hobart developer Ali Sultan proposed a four starStar (classification)
Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes. They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies, TV shows, restaurants, and hotels. For example, one to five stars is commonly employed to categorize hotels.-Restaurant ratings:...
, 60-room hotel/motel for the airport. 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. The hotel employs 25 people.
Big box development
Early in 2006, the airport announced plans to build a Direct Factory Outlet just east of Holyman Avenue. The complex was originally planned to cover an area of 18000 square metres (193,750.4 sq ft), which would have made it the largest of its kind in Australia. Austexx, a Melbourne-based company, will be leasing the site and is the main investor in the 100 million dollar project.The development would also provide car parking for over 2,000 cars and road works will most likely be conducted on Holyman Avenue to ensure that traffic flow into the airport itself is not affected. While the Tasmanian Government has thrown its support into the project and believes the Direct Factory Outlet will drive retail trade growth, the Hobart City Council
City of Hobart
The City of Hobart is a Local Government Area of Tasmania, Australia. It is one of three local government areas covering the metropolitan area of the state capital, Hobart.-Government:...
and a large amount of retail shop owners in the Hobart Central Business District
Hobart city centre
Hobart also known as the Hobart city centre is a locality surrounded by Hobart which comprises the original settlement, the central business district and other built-up areas...
have expressed fear of losing business. Concern was also expressed about the big box being built on commonwealth land and therefore escaping the state planning laws.
During April 2007, the Hobart Airport's public relations firm confirmed they had submitted plans of the project ('including rejections') to the Federal Government for assessment. When Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss
Warren Truss
Warren Errol Truss , Australian politician, is the current leader of the National Party of Australia in the Parliament of Australia. He has held the House of Representatives seat of Wide Bay since the 1990 election...
assessed the project, he gave approval on condition the outlet centre was cut by almost half to 10000 square metres (107,639.1 sq ft), prompting Austexx to walk away from the proposal. However, in February 2008, Austexx' chief executive Geoff Porz confirmed the Direct Factory Outlet and Homemaker Hub was back on, going as far as to say that Hobart was "grossly under-supplied with shopping facilities".
Filmography
In 2010 the airport was depicted in the feature film Arctic BlastArctic Blast (film)
Arctic Blast is a 2010 disaster film. Its world premiere took place at the 2010 Canadian Film Festival in Sydney, at the Dendy Opera Quays cinema, on August 4.- Plot :...
. In 2011 the airport was seen again in The Hunter
The Hunter (2011 Australian film)
The Hunter is a 2011 Australian film, directed by Daniel Nettheim and produced by Vincent Sheehan, based on the 1999 novel by Julia Leigh. It stars Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor. To prepare for the role, Dafoe worked with a bush survival expert who taught him practical tips like how...
, starring Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe is an American film, stage, and voice actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...
.
Airlines and destinations
Four passenger airlines currently operate regular flights from Hobart to seven destinations in the southern and eastern states of Australia. One cargo airlineCargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
also operates from the airport and a specialist carrier operates to the Australian Antarctic Territory
Australian Antarctic Territory
The Australian Antarctic Territory is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation...
during summer.
Previous Airlines to fly from the airport include Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
, Compass Airlines
Compass Airlines (Australia)
Compass Airlines operated in Australia for two brief periods in the early 1990s. The two incarnations of the airline were quite separate with different management and aircraft.-History:...
and Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
.
Jetstar is considering expanding its services to Hobart in the future. Possible new routes include Adelaide and Perth or a return of a direct New Zealand service.
Traffic and statistics
The tables in the left column list passenger movements for competed routes out of Hobart Airport. For fiscal year 2007–08, the Hobart to Brisbane route recorded 152,400 passenger movements. The table in the right column lists regular scheduled passenger and aircraft movements for Hobart Airport.| Rank | Airport | Passengers (thousands) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Melbourne AirportMelbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the... |
1,210.2 | 0.1 |
| 2 |  Sydney AirportSydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
494.0 | 2.1 |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers (Thousands) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the... |
100.9 | 4.3 |
| 2 | Sydney Airport Sydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
41.3 | 2.8 |
| Year | Passenger movements | Aircraft movements |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 860,240 | 9,697 |
| 1999–00 | 908,647 | 10,776 |
| 2000–01 | 973,922 | 15,205 |
| 2001–02 | 957,611 | 12,266 |
| 2002–03 | 1,009,605 | 11,444 |
| 2003–04 | 1,225,645 | 12,729 |
| 2004–05 | 1,522,838 | 15,889 |
| 2005–06 | 1,605,978 | 13,764 |
| 2006–07 | 1,629,417 | 12,762 |
| 2007–08 | 1,758,241 | 13,778 |
| 2008–09 | 1,869,262 | 14,285 |
| 2009–10 | 1,855,849 | 14,380 |
Ground transport
Hobart Airport has a car park that caters for short, medium or long term parking. There is also a well-serviced taxi rankTaxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
and limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
service operating at the airport. There are numerous car rental
Car rental
A car rental or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time for a fee...
operators at the airport, these include Hertz
The Hertz Corporation
Hertz Global Holdings Inc is an American car rental company with international locations in 145 countries worldwide.-Early years:The company was founded by Walter L. Jacobs in 1918, who started a car rental operation in Chicago with a dozen Model T Ford cars. In 1923, Jacobs sold it to John D...
, Avis
Avis Rent A Car System
Avis Rent a Car System, LLC is a car rental company headquartered in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey, United States. Avis, Budget Rent a Car and Budget Truck Rental are all units of Avis Budget Group....
, Budget
Budget Rent a Car
Budget Rent a Car System, Inc. is an American car rental company that was founded in 1958 in Los Angeles, California by Morris Mirkin. Budget's operations are headquartered in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey....
, Europcar
Europcar
Europcar is a Paris based car rental company owned by the French investment company Eurazeo, after its sale by the Volkswagen group. The company was founded in Paris in 1949...
, Thrifty
Dollar-Thrifty Automotive Group
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group is a holding company for Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car, formed in 1990 by Chrysler and spun off in 1997....
, Red Spot, Bargain Car Rentals, Rent For Less, Britz Maui, Tasmanian Camper Van Rentals and Cruisin Tasmania. Public transport has not been a high use alternative to private transport for those travelling to and from the airport. There is a bus service that operates between the Hobart Central Business District
Hobart city centre
Hobart also known as the Hobart city centre is a locality surrounded by Hobart which comprises the original settlement, the central business district and other built-up areas...
and the airport for every departure. The shuttle departs outside the terminal after the arrival of every flight transferring passengers to the city. The primary operator for bus services is Tasmanian Redline Coaches
Redline Coaches
Redline Coaches is a coach transport company in Tasmania, Australia. The company is involved in both charter services and regular routes from Tasmania's three major cities - Burnie to Launceston and Launceston to Hobart, and in 1988 added an additional run, from Smithton to Burnie...
.