Hobart Airport is “getting into discussions” with airlines about establishing new direct flights to Asia as extensive runway upgrades near completion.
Airport CEO Norris Carter said 60,000 tonnes of asphalt has already been laid in the $130 million infrastructure project, with approximately 45,000 tonnes still to be installed.
“We’re on time, we’re on budget,” he said. “The project will finish around the middle of this year, which we’re really looking forward to.”
The upgraded runway will accommodate wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, enabling direct long-haul international flights.
Carter said Singapore and Hong Kong have been identified as possible international destinations due to their dual value as popular tourist markets and global aviation hubs.
“We’d be looking at the home hub carriers out of Singapore and Hong Kong, so Singapore Airlines or Scoot and Cathay Pacific,” Carter said.
“We’ve never been able to do that before and so we’re getting into discussions with airlines about starting those flights.”
The infrastructure improvements have also facilitated the resumption of Antarctic flights that were temporarily paused during construction.
Approximately 40 flights supporting vital polar expeditions are scheduled across the season.
