175,000 travellers: Hobart Airport braces for busiest fortnight of the year

Hobart Airport is bracing for its busiest time of the year, with thousands set to move across the tarmac during the coming fortnight. What to expect.

Hobart Airport in the days before Christmas and it’s busiest period. December 22, 2023. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hobart Airport is bracing for its busiest time of the year, with thousands expected to move through the tarmac during the coming fortnight.

With a plethora of travellers either heading or arriving home for the Christmas and New Years’ period, about 175,000 passengers will come through the airport during the next two weeks.

The busiest of the coming days is expected to fall on Christmas Eve, with about 11,000 travellers moving through the small airport – an increase of about 30 per cent compared to the amount of people last year.

Gerlinde and Jorja Nicholson of Canberra at the Hobart Airport. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mother and daughter Gerlinde and Jorja Nicholson were among those at the airport on Friday, having recently arrived from Canberra and waiting there to pick up incoming family members.

“We’re here waiting for my husband — we’re not actually from Tasmania, but we’re having Christmas here this year,” Ms Nicholson said.

“Jorja and I actually came over on the boat so that we could bring the car, which obviously took a bit longer but it was still easy enough.

“We have family here in Hobart, so we’re happy to be here and spend Christmas with them.”

Hobart Airport chief financial officer Kate Gillies. Picture: Chris Kidd

Chief Financial Officer at Hobart Airport Kate Gillies said it was “definitely going to be a really busy few weeks”, but it was nothing the staff were not prepared for.

“It’s going to be busy, but we’re doing everything within our control to make it as easy and smooth as possible for travellers either arriving or leaving,” Ms Gillies said.

“To deal with the rush, we’ve put on extra staff and there are also extra volunteers on to help around the airport.

“We’ve also tried to do some fun things, like have a DJ and some other entertainment around the airport so that it’s a bit easier for families.

“I think that in general, people are in better spirits when they’re travelling for Christmas because we’re all a bit more relaxed and looking forward to wherever we’re heading.”

Fitting in with the airport’s festive atmosphere, a DJ has been positioned out the front spinning Christmas tunes alongside a man in an elaborate Christmas tree costume on stilts.

Ultimately, Ms Gillies said, the goal was to make travelling as stress-free and seamless as possible.

Hobart will not be the only Tasmanian airport experiencing an influx, with Launceston predicting about 6000 passengers per day and a total of 90,000 travellers overall.

The usual transport options to and from the Hobart airport will also remain available, with the Sky Bus running on its normal schedules, even on public holidays, as well as taxis and Ubers available as per usual.

Originally published as 175,000 travellers: Hobart Airport braces for busiest fortnight of the year