Launceston Airport has broken its all-time passenger record for the first five months of the year, with more than 638,000 people travelling through the terminal since January.
CEO Shane O’Hare said the airport has also surpassed pre-COVID numbers and records, with current figures placing them in a strong position to break another record by the end of the year.
“We’ve continued breaking records above most airports in Australia,” O’Hare said.
“We’re looking forward to an end-of-year all-time record and [we’re] well on track for that.”
The numbers come just over a month after the collapse of budget airline Bonza and Qantas’ introduction of a new, larger A321 aircraft to service the Melbourne freight route.
The A321, which is 30% larger than the 737s it will replace, will operate at least five days a week and has a greater freight capacity.
Qantas Freight Executive Manager Igor Kwiatkowski said the upgrade is part of the airline’s strategy to improve air freight capabilities and modernise its fleet.
“The A321 means we can transport up to 70% more parcels to Launceston shoppers each trip than we could on the 737s,” he said.
“The new aircraft also comes with environmental benefits, creating less emissions and using less fuel per parcel delivered.”
O’Hare said the airport is experiencing similar growth in freight as it is in passenger numbers, partly due to the opening of the Virgin Australia Freight Facility last year.
“This is … underpinning the need for greater freight capacity here into Launceston and Northern Tasmania,” he said.
“We’re particularly proud and pleased that we’ve been able to help facilitate that growth and, of course, that has a great knock-on effect for the growth of our economy here as well.”
The airport will continue upgrading its facilities over the next 12 weeks to accommodate more aircraft, including a new freight apron and improved facilities for Qantas.
