Hobart's population is pushing 220,000 and we're debating whether that's enough to sustain international flights. Yet Queenstown (population 15,000) can easily sustain several international flights per day. Even Cairns has a population of only about 150,000. Obviously there are factors other than simply population at play here. The fact is that it's more attractive to international tourists to start/end their NZ holidays in Queenstown, and their Australian holidays in Cairns, than it is to start/end their holidays in Hobart. Realistically, how likely is it that that will ever change?
I, too, am surprised that there are no direct flights from PER.
I'll give you Cairns, but how many medium / long haul flights on a wide body go to Queenstown? That's Hobart equation.
Doesn't have to be a widebody aircraft. Both 737 max and a320/321 LR have the range to do Singapore to Hobart. Yes i know people dont like narrow body aircraft on long flights but that is due to seating layout. Provide decenr legroom and most people will be happy.. The world has changed - everybody wants direct flights now
The answer is none, because ZQN runway is 1890 m with a lake at one end and a river at the other. There is no taxiway, and probably won't be until the airport can buy or maybe resume land from its next door neighbour There are no airbridges.
Bogans to bali maybe, not enough pax for any other routes
The Bali bogan traffic is mainly supported by mining incomes from Perth, Tasmanian bogans can barely afford 5 packets of cigarettes a week let alone overseas holidays.
I agree, during winter Hobart airport is a lonely place for travelers, during summer you can barely move due to the large groups of Chinese tourists. I guess the actual number for Chinese visitors is on record somewhere, but from my observation I think a seasonal connection direct to China would be busy.
I think many readers miss the point here - the largest percentage of foreign visitors to Tasmania are from China. This is the where new international flights will come from/go to. Indeed the Tasmanian govt has already had talks with China Southern and others about direct flights to Hobart. You just need to walk around Salamanca place on a Saturday morning or go through Hobart or Launceston airports to see the huge numbers of Chinese visiting Tasmania. Since the Chinese leader visited here in 2014/2015 the numbers of visiting Chinese has increased to a point where over 60% of visitors to attractions in Tasmania are Chinese.
Doesn't have to be a widebody aircraft. Both 737 max and a320/321 LR have the range to do Singapore to Hobart. Yes i know people dont like narrow body aircraft on long flights but that is due to seating layout. Provide decenr legroom and most people will be happy.. The world has changed - everybody wants direct flights now
Unless I'm mistaken, the 737 Max has a range of 3800 and Hobart is 4000miles. The 321LR could do it. Has Silk Air or SQ bought any?
If anything, assuming no SQ tag, HBA seems like a Scoot market to me.
And sorry aniljak, in one post you are suggesting that SQ fly sin-cbr-hba and the next post you're saying "everybody wants direct flights now"
I think many readers miss the point here - the largest percentage of foreign visitors to Tasmania are from China. This is the where new international flights will come from/go to. Indeed the Tasmanian govt has already had talks with China Southern and others about direct flights to Hobart. You just need to walk around Salamanca place on a Saturday morning or go through Hobart or Launceston airports to see the huge numbers of Chinese visiting Tasmania. Since the Chinese leader visited here in 2014/2015 the numbers of visiting Chinese has increased to a point where over 60% of visitors to attractions in Tasmania are Chinese.
Valid point indeed. Will be interesting to see if any mainland carriers get on board
I don't know if anyone here is too young to remember....TAA and Ansett's very first international flights in the 70s (I think) were operated from HBA to NZ (AKL?)...If they were sustainable then, why not now? Yep to the Chinese tourists, but what about the other most common visitor groups to Australia, The Kiwis and The North Americans?
Taa and Ansett operated 727s from 1981 between Hobart and Christchurch taking turns each week for several years.
Air NZ operated a 737-200 on same route every Saturday in early 90s. Flew on it and it was full at end of April!
No reason routes to Auckland and Christchurch cant br flown now with 737 or A320 couple of times per week.
People may have forgotten but Qantas did operate a 767-200 International service from Hobart to Sydney in early 90s. Connected with a number of international flights.
Wasn't aware of how big Chinese tourism is in Tasmania. Makes sense to target Chinese airlines.
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
aniljak
aniljak
Member since 15 Sep 2012
Total posts 99
Doesn't have to be a widebody aircraft. Both 737 max and a320/321 LR have the range to do Singapore to Hobart. Yes i know people dont like narrow body aircraft on long flights but that is due to seating layout. Provide decenr legroom and most people will be happy.. The world has changed - everybody wants direct flights now
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
The answer is none, because ZQN runway is 1890 m with a lake at one end and a river at the other. There is no taxiway, and probably won't be until the airport can buy or maybe resume land from its next door neighbour There are no airbridges.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Actually ZQN-HBA for Air NZ might make sense, seasonal perhaps.
tommygun
tommygun
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
Member since 16 Oct 2017
Total posts 291
Actually ZQN-HBA for Air NZ might make sense, seasonal perhaps.
Heliduck
Heliduck
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Dec 2017
Total posts 6
The Bali bogan traffic is mainly supported by mining incomes from Perth, Tasmanian bogans can barely afford 5 packets of cigarettes a week let alone overseas holidays.
Heliduck
Heliduck
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Dec 2017
Total posts 6
I agree, during winter Hobart airport is a lonely place for travelers, during summer you can barely move due to the large groups of Chinese tourists. I guess the actual number for Chinese visitors is on record somewhere, but from my observation I think a seasonal connection direct to China would be busy.
Zolan
Zolan
Member since 28 Jul 2011
Total posts 4
I think many readers miss the point here - the largest percentage of foreign visitors to Tasmania are from China. This is the where new international flights will come from/go to. Indeed the Tasmanian govt has already had talks with China Southern and others about direct flights to Hobart. You just need to walk around Salamanca place on a Saturday morning or go through Hobart or Launceston airports to see the huge numbers of Chinese visiting Tasmania. Since the Chinese leader visited here in 2014/2015 the numbers of visiting Chinese has increased to a point where over 60% of visitors to attractions in Tasmania are Chinese.
phil h
phil h
Member since 06 Mar 2017
Total posts 8
Stop thinking QF/SQ etc...think D7 with majority inbound feeding Chinese pax via KUL.
Some outbound potential, esp. Premium Flatbed.
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
Unless I'm mistaken, the 737 Max has a range of 3800 and Hobart is 4000miles. The 321LR could do it. Has Silk Air or SQ bought any?
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
Some outbound potential, esp. Premium Flatbed.
Yep, Air Asia would make some sense... But given their recent Melbourne changes, they are likely to operate any Hobart flights to LST 😀
Kiwirailengr
Kiwirailengr
Member since 10 Apr 2015
Total posts 4
Nil wide bodies....
hutch
hutch
Member since 07 Oct 2012
Total posts 772
Valid point indeed. Will be interesting to see if any mainland carriers get on board
@7e7
@7e7
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Nov 2017
Total posts 4
I don't know if anyone here is too young to remember....TAA and Ansett's very first international flights in the 70s (I think) were operated from HBA to NZ (AKL?)...If they were sustainable then, why not now? Yep to the Chinese tourists, but what about the other most common visitor groups to Australia, The Kiwis and The North Americans?
aniljak
aniljak
Member since 15 Sep 2012
Total posts 99
Taa and Ansett operated 727s from 1981 between Hobart and Christchurch taking turns each week for several years.