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Hobart Airport has officially opened its $130 million upgraded runway, which will be able to accommodate larger wide-body aircraft like the 787 and A350.
Funded by $70 million from the airport itself and $60 million from the federal government, the runway upgrades – which began last year – were completed in three stages, and could open up flights to Asian destinations within the next few years, said Norris Carter, chief executive of Hobart Airport.
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“We’ve been talking to airlines for a number of years now around the potential to fly to Hobart. They have been limited by the runway, and that’s why we invested in this project. Now that we’ve built the runway, we’ve got that proof of concept that we actually are serious and can do it,” Carter said.
“We already have international flights to Auckland, and this upgraded runway now provides us the opportunity to take the airport to the next level and secure direct services to an Asian hub such as Singapore or Hong Kong.
“The upgraded runway is worth an estimated $122 million per year to Tasmania’s tourism, agriculture and Antarctic industries, and more than 1,200 jobs.
“The project has come in safely, on time, on budget and with minimal impact on travellers, which is pretty amazing when you consider the work required to upgrade our only runway while maintaining flight operations. It’s been a fantastic job by all our team and contractors.”
Around 103,000 cubic metres of asphalt were laid for the project, along with more than 200 truckloads of concrete. According to Federal Transport Minister Catherine King, the upgraded runway will also support Defence operations and Hobart’s continued role as a gateway to Antarctica.
“These upgrades help connect Hobart to the world. The newly reopened Hobart Airport will create opportunities for Tasmanians, from local businesses and tourism operators, to strengthening Tassie’s connection to the Antarctic sector,” Minister King said.
“This investment has secured Hobart’s status as Australia’s Antarctic gateway, and will help grow economic activity from the Antarctic and Southern Ocean sectors.
“Sporting an upgraded runway, Hobart Airport can now take on larger international passenger and freight flights, unlocking a world of opportunities for Tasmanians and the local visitor economy.”
The runway upgrade is part of Hobart Airport’s master plan, which also includes $200 million to overhaul its terminal.
The current terminal was designed for 1.5 million passengers per year and currently handles 2.6 million, with forecasts of 3.5 million by 2030. The upgrade – to be carried out by Hutchinson Builders – will see the terminal double in size, with works expected to be completed by early 2027.
