Hobart Airport touts 3-year growth plan for Auckland flights

“The non-stop Hobart to Auckland service gives Tasmanians a direct link to New Zealand and convenient connections to destinations across North America and beyond,” Mr Cocker said.

“Importantly, this isn’t just about the service returning for another summer. We have a three-year plan to grow the route, building on the demand we’ve already seen and giving Tasmanians and visitors greater confidence in the connection.

“We’re working towards extending the operating season and increasing both capacity and frequency, strengthening Tasmania’s access to a key international market.

“By the 2028/29 season, Air New Zealand, with the support of the Tasmanian Governments Aviation Attraction Fund, will have more flights and seats in an extended season than when the service operated year-round.”

Around 65 per cent of passengers on the service during the 2025-26 season were New Zealand residents, and Air New Zealand GM short haul and domestic Lucy Hall said the airline “loves connecting New Zealand and Tasmania”.

“We know how much our customers value the convenience of flying direct, so this year we’re extending the season and adding more seats, including a fourth weekly flight during the peak travel period,” she said.

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“That means 28 per cent more capacity than the same period last year, giving customers even more choice when planning their next trip.”

According to Cocker, the Auckland service is “part of a strong summer schedule at Hobart Airport, which also includes Jetstar’s seasonal Newcastle flights and Qantas’ move to daily Brisbane services”.

“As we grow this service, we’re also investing in the infrastructure needed to make international travel easier through Tasmania’s major international gateway,” Mr Cocker said.

“Passengers travelling to Auckland or connecting onwards to destinations such as LA, New York and Vancouver will be able to complete outbound border processing in Hobart and check their bags through to their final destination, and simply transit in Auckland, avoiding queues in other ports.

“It’s another important step in making international travel more convenient and supporting the growth of our international connections.

“More flights, more seats and stronger connections mean more choice for Tasmanians and more opportunities for visitors to come to our state.”

The news comes as Hobart opens new departure and arrivals areas as part of major terminal works. The airport’s master plan includes $200 million to overhaul its terminal, as the current facility was designed for 1.5 million passengers per year and currently handles around 3 million, with forecasts of 3.5 million by 2030.

Works have also included a $130 million runway overhaul that was completed last year, allowing it to handle larger aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

Previous works completed in 2018 extended the main runway to 2,727m, allowing larger aircraft to fly to and from Asia-Pacific and Antarctica, at $40 million.

The upgrades are expected to be completed by early 2027.