Hobart Airport

Prior to the existence of the airport, the region was served by Cambridge Airport,[7] 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.[10] 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.[10] Hobart Airport was commissioned in 1956 as the primary regular public transport airport.[11] 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.[12]

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.[11] In 1964, the Federal Government upgraded and lengthened the runway to cater for jet aircraft. The runway was extended again in 1985[11] to cater for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Antonov 124 (albeit to a limited operating range).[11] The current domestic terminal building was officially opened on 28 July 1976[13] and the international terminal building in 1986.[11][14] The Federal Government corporatised the airport in January 1988 with the creation of the Federal Airports Corporation.[15]

Virgin Blue and Jetstar jets on the taxiway

On 11 June 1998, Hobart airport was privatised, with a 99-year lease purchased by Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd, a Tasmanian Government-owned company operated by the Hobart Ports Corporation.[16][11][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[12] 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 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 Tasplan.[7] 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]

The security checkpoint for departures

Hobart Airport has two passenger terminals. In 2007, the two terminals were connected in a $15 million[20] development to meet new Commonwealth legislation that requires all checked luggage to be X-rayed.[21] 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.[22] 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.[7] 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.

Freight

Terminal cafe

There are two domestic freight areas operating at the airport, catering for Qantas, Toll Air and Virgin Australia.[7] 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.[7] In January 2007, Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) 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.[7]

General aviation

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.[7] 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.[7] This expansion would include a new runway and a general aviation apron located south of the existing Domestic Terminal.[7]

A 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).[7] 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[11] and is suitable for all Code E aircraft operations up to and including Boeing 777/747 aircraft.[11] 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.[7][25] Currently aircraft have to taxi along the runway and proceed to the parking apron via taxiways in the middle of the runway.[7] This has both capacity and safety implications for the airport, as the runway cannot be used whilst an aircraft is taxiing.[7] The plans provide for a parallel taxiway to the full length of runway.[7] 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.[7]

The airport purchased land from the Tasmanian Government in the southern part of the airport for future development of operational facilities.[16][11] 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.[11]

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 has not been a high use alternative to private transport for those travelling to and from the airport.[7] There is a bus service established in 2018, the "Hobart Airporter",[48] 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. The operator for the bus service is SkyBus.[7]

• List of airports in Tasmania

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hobart Airport.

• Official site