Dark Mofo: Qantas schedules six extra return flights to Hobart from Melbourne and Sydney this June

Tasmania’s favourite winter festival is proving to be so popular among mainlanders this year that one major airline has had to schedule an additional six return flights to Hobart this June.

Ogoh-ogoh: The Procession, Dark Mofo. Picture: Dark Mofo

Demand for this year’s Dark Mofo has been so strong that Qantas has had to schedule an additional six return flights from the mainland to accommodate the influx of visitors expected to flood into Hobart come June.

After a year off in 2024, the sensationally popular music and arts festival will kick into gear on June 5, with several events already having sold out after tickets went on sale last week.

About 40,000 Dark Mofo tickets have been snapped up to date and roughly 70 per cent have been purchased by people interstate.

Qantas has put on extra flights into Hobart for June to accommodate Dark Mofo demand. Picture: iStock

Organisers expect interstate visitation will likely exceed figures from the 2023 festival, which attracted 35,000 mainlanders to Tasmania.

The extra six Qantas flights flying into Hobart Airport in June will bring an additional 1600 passengers, on top of those arriving on already scheduled flights.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said he was delighted that Qantas and the airport were able to increase the number of flights at such a busy time of the year.

Norris Carter, CEO of Hobart Airport. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Hobart Airport is the most popular gateway to Tasmania, and that’s only increasing with the return of the much-loved Dark Mofo,” he said.

“Events like Dark Mofo drive a lot of travel, and [that’s] part of the reason why we’re investing in the expansion of Hobart Airport, to deliver more space, more choice and more jobs for Tasmanians.”

Adam Mee, Qantas’ regional manager for Tasmania, said the airline already had about 25 per cent more seats from Melbourne-to-Hobart flights this June compared to the same time last year but the further six flights were necessary to meet demand driven by Dark Mofo.

Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite was excited that the response to the festival’s return had been so enthusiastic.

Artistic director of Dark Mofo Chris Twite. Picture: Linda Higginson

“With so many interstate visitors already locked in, we know that more people want to come down and take part in the incredible art, music, feasting and late night revelry for Dark Mofo,” he said.

“Whether you’re coming down for the massive program of free and low cost events – from the Winter Feast to the sprawling art program, the Nude Swim to the Ogoh-Ogoh Burning – or if [you’re] trying to snag some of the tickets still available for concerts and gigs, there’s so much to do during the festival.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said it was “critical” that sufficient capacity to meet visitor demand during major events was guaranteed.

“It’s great to see our airports, access partners and events working together to achieve the very best result for our visitor economy and to increase confidence in travel to Tasmania,” she said.

Originally published as Dark Mofo: Qantas schedules six extra return flights to Hobart from Melbourne and Sydney this June