Hobart Airport is heading into its busiest holiday period yet, with airlines scheduling one million seats on flights to and from the Tasmanian capital. It marks an 11 per cent rise on last summer’s capacity and sets a new benchmark for the airport as travel demand continues to rebound and shift.
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Minister Jane Howlett described the figure as a major moment for Tasmania’s aviation links, noting the scale of the season’s schedule and the confidence it reflects from airline partners. She said that hosting more than one million seats for the first time shows Tasmania is firmly on travellers’ radars during the warmer months, when domestic tourism peaks and the state positions itself as a cool-climate escape.
The surge in available seats has been helped by adjustments to the state’s Aviation Attraction Fund. Minister Howlett explained that the program has been expanded so airlines can now apply for support on existing domestic routes, including the busy Melbourne to Tasmania corridor. She said the change aims to encourage more growth on high-demand links and strengthen access to the state’s largest visitor markets. She invited every Tasmanian airport to revisit the updated criteria and look at opportunities to collaborate with carriers on new proposals.
Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter supported the expanded guidelines, calling them a practical change that could open the door to tens of thousands of additional seats on the most in-demand routes. He pointed to flights connecting Hobart with Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, which act as gateways to more than 70 onward destinations internationally and domestically. Carter said improved frequency and availability on these routes benefits both Tasmanians heading interstate or overseas and the local businesses that rely on steady visitor numbers.
The figures released today follow the recent launch of a direct seasonal service between Hobart and Newcastle. Announced in October through a partnership between the Tasmanian Government, Hobart Airport and Jetstar, the route welcomed its first flight on 2 December. Minister Howlett said the early demand for that service was always expected to contribute to the strong summer numbers now being reported.
While the milestone reflects strong confidence from the aviation sector, it also raises broader questions about how the state prepares for increased visitor traffic at peak times. Industry bodies have previously highlighted the need for balanced planning to ensure that airlines, airports, tourism operators and local communities can handle fluctuations without pressure on infrastructure or services. Today’s milestone will likely renew those discussions.
For now, the focus from both government and airport leadership remains on ensuring Tasmania is well connected during its busiest season. More seats offer more choice for travellers and more certainty for tourism operators who rely on reliable capacity. It also allows airlines to test demand on routes that may grow beyond seasonal offerings in the future.
Further details about the Aviation Attraction Fund and its updated guidelines are available here.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Donate To The Indian Sun
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun is an independent organisation committed to community journalism. We have, through the years, been able to reach a wide audience especially with the growth of social media, where we also have a strong presence. With platforms such as YouTube videos, we have been able to engage in different forms of storytelling. However, the past few years, like many media organisations around the world, it has not been an easy path. We have a greater challenge. We believe community journalism is very important for a multicultural country like Australia. We’re not able to do everything, but we aim for some of the most interesting stories and journalism of quality. We call upon readers like you to support us and make any contribution. Do make a DONATION NOW so we can continue with the volume and quality journalism that we are able to practice.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Team The Indian Sun
