Hobart International Airport
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| Hobart International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA: HBA - ICAO: YMHB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Tas Ports Corporation | ||
| Serves | Hobart | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 13 ft (4 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 12/30 | 7,385 | 2,251 | Asphalt |
Hobart International Airport (IATA: HBA, ICAO: YMHB) is the primary passenger and freight airport of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Although the airport has not had a regular international passenger service since the 1990s (to Christchurch, New Zealand), the official name of Hobart International Airport remains. Singapore Airlines’ charter program flies into the Airport using Boeing 777 aircraft[1]. As such, the airport maintains its international terminal building, customs and immigration facilities.
The airport now serves over 20,000 flights which equates to 1.6 million people per year.[2]. The Australian Antarctic Division also intends to use the airport as a base for Antarctic flights.
The airport is located near the semi-rural suburb of Cambridge about 20 kilometers from the city centre or a 15 minute drive. Approach and departure corridors to the Tasman Highway exist in largely unpopulated areas, which enables the airport to operate curfew free services.
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[edit] History
The airport opened in 1956, replacing the nearby Cambridge Aerodrome as the aerial gateway to Hobart. At this time, it was known, not as Hobart International Airport, but as Lanherne Airport, after the name of the property on which it was built. This name, however, has now fallen into disuse. In its first full year of operation the airport processed 120,086 passengers and 11,724 tonnes of freight, ranking fifth in Australia[2]. By 1957 the airport's infrastructure comprised a small terminal building that remains at the southern end of the Qantas area, 2 freight hangars, fuel depot, timber weather station and the airport administration office and works compound. In 1964 the Federal Government upgraded and lengthened the runway to cater for Jet aircraft. The runway was extended again in the 1980s to cater for large aircraft such as Boeing 747 and Antonov aircraft (to a limited operating range). The Current domestic terminal building was officially opened in April 1976 and the international terminal building opened in 1986. In 1998 the airport was privatised, now on a 99 year lease to Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd, a Tas Ports Corporation subsidiary, which is a Tasmanian Government owned enterprise.
[edit] The Runway
- The high strength flexible runway was constructed with an asphaltic concrete surface. It is adequate for unrestricted operations up to and including Boeing 767 and Airbus A300 aircraft. Boeing 747 aircraft can operate with a weight restriction. A runway length of 2,800 metres would allow unrestricted operations to destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo[1]. The current runway length of 2,251 metres is adequate for direct flights to New Zealand, Cairns, Perth, Singapore and Jakarta[1]. For longer range operations, a weight limit is imposed for aircraft landing and on take off. The landing length required at Hobart for a Boeing 747 at maximum operational landing weight is 2,400 metres, a minimum runway extension of 150 metres is understandably desirable in future development of the airport. However, the current runway length is considered adequate for the time being.
- The Airport has recently purchased land from the State Government, for the future development of further operational facilities in the southern part of the Airport[1]. This additional area would allow for a short runway for general aviation aircraft. The purchase would allow a runway either parallel to the main runway along the southern end of the eastern boundary of the Airport or a cross runway towards the southern end of the main runway. The alternative second runway would provide an opportunity to improve the operational management of the lighter categories of aircraft. However, these capabilities will most likely be developed in the relatively distant future[1].
Both the second runway and existing runway are not likely to be developed any time soon, due to the fact the runway is presently under-utilised. If Antarctic operations or other airline operations changed the nature of the runway operations enough to warrant these developments, they will be undertaken.
[edit] Redevelopment
[edit] Domestic Terminal - stage 1
In 2004 the airport undertook the major task of redeveloping the domestic terminal (the first in its 30 year history). This development involved:
- Modernising the Domestic terminal
- All retail shops moved to within the security screened area[3].
- re-alignment of the carpark.
- Rent-A-Car facilities moved to new building in the carpark.
In 2005 Hobart Airport experienced record annual pasenger turnovers[2]and it was then decided to bring forward plans to upgrade the seating copacity of the airport, this involved expanding the domestic terminal building over the tarmac by 3 meters, to provide more departure lounge space.
[edit] Domestic Terminal - stage 2
In August 2006 the airport began a 15 million dollar[4] development to bring the airport into line with new Federal Security laws coming into effect August 2007. When complete this will enable ALL checked luggage to be X-rayed. This area will be located between the existing Domestic And International Terminal. The works also involved situating the three airline check-in counters in a central area (located in the area where the current virgin blue check-in counter is) and relocating the Virgin blue arrivals area to the northern side of the International Terminal.[5] Once completed the International Terminal and Domestic Terminal will be one Building, and ensure 'Hobart Airport' is at a standard appropriate for a capital city airport.[6].
Other enhancements this redvelopment will involve:
- New high strength aircraft parking bays(Apron), and new fuel spill drainage arrangements.
- New food and beverage facilities before security screening are also planned.
- combining the international and domestic terminal buildings[6]
- Terminal space to cater for any new entrant airlines.
[edit] Other Developments
[edit] Big Box Project
Early 2006, the Airport announced plans to build a Direct Factory Outlet just east of Holyman Avenue. The complex will cover an area equal to the area of nine football fields,[3][7] which will make it the largest of its kind in Australia. Austexx, a Melbourne based company - will be leasing the site and is the main investor in the 100 million dollar project.[8] The retail outlets will include a Direct Factory Outlet of over 100 leading fashion brands, a Trade Do It Yourself Centre, a Homemaker Centre and a Bulky Goods Centre. confirmed individual retail outlets include:[8]
- "Converse"
- "Esprit"
- "Events and Ojay"
- "Fila"
- "Jag"
- "Joanne Mercer"
- "Nine West"
- "Sandler shoes"
- "Sheridan"
- "Tommy Hilfiger"
- "Villa and Hut"
- "Witchery"
The development will also provide car parking for over 2000 cars and road works will most likely be conducted on Holyman Avenue to ensure that traffic flow into the Airport itself is not affected. While the state government has thrown its support into the project and believes the Direct Factory Outlet will drive retail trade growth, the Hobart City Council and a large amount of retail shop owners in the Hobart CBD have expressed fear of losing business.[8] Concern was also expressed about the Big Box being built on Commonwealth Land and therefore escaping the state planning laws.[8] During April 2007 the Hobart Airport's public relations firm confirmed they had submitted plans of the project (including rejections) to the Federal Government for assessment. Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss will assess the project within 90 days.[8]
[edit] Developments planned for Hobart Airport
[edit] Airlines
3 airlines fly scheduled services to and from Hobart:
- Qantas (Sydney, Melbourne)
- Jetstar Airways (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)
- Virgin Blue (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide)
Local specialty airline TasAir also performs scenic flights, and flights within Tasmania, including the Bass Strait islands. Singapore Airlines also provides seasonal charter flights.
Top Gun Tasmania operates Jet Adventure flights out of Hobart airport to the Storm Bay area.
[edit] Air Freight
- World Link International
- Australian Air Express
- Virgin Blue
- TasAir
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e PDF file Master Plan. Hobart International Airport (2004). Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
- ^ a b c PDF file 2005 Annual report. Hobart International Airport (2005). Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ a b c HIAPL News & Information. Hobart International Airport (2006). Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ "$15m airport revamp security-driven", The Mercury. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
- ^ Redevlopment plan PDF. Hobart International Airport (2006). Retrieved on July 29, 2006.
- ^ a b Terminal Upgrade. Hobart International Airport (2006). Retrieved on July 29, 2006.
- ^ PDF file Development Plan. Hobart International Airport (2006). Retrieved on June 25, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e "Future of Controversial Big Box in Federal Hands", The Mercury. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
