QIC teams with Schiphol on Hobart airport deal

Hobart Airport has drawn attention of several in interested investors. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Queensland Investment Corporation is understood to have teamed up with the Dutch government-backed Schiphol group, which owns Amsterdam Airport, in its quest to buy a stake in Hobart Airport.

Schiphol and Vinci were revealed to be suitors of the airport in June.

But Schiphol,while bidding alone, did not make the shortlist in the competition.

Final bids are due on Friday. Besides QIC and Schiphol, other shortlisted parties are Cbus with Host Plus and also Vinci.

Schiphol is already one of the stakeholders in Brisbane Airport, with an 18.7 per cent slice, with QIC also being a shareholder in that airport.

Typically, the Hobart Airport would be considered too small for major players on the airport investment scene, but few investment opportunities on the horizon in this part of the world could mean the groups are eager to participate.

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets is selling a 50.1 per cent interest in the asset and Credit Suisse is advising on the sale.

MIRA’s GIF III fund purchased the stake in the airport in 2007 and has since embarked on initiatives to boost its value, including a 500m runway extension and the development of infrastructure to support international flights.

On the back of the changes, passenger numbers increased about 50 per cent between 2008 and 2018, and it is now handling 2.5 million passengers annually

In addition to passenger flights, it assists Tasmanian businesses with access to airfreight and handles flights to Australia’s Antarctic bases over summer.