Hobart Airport to welcome more than 180,000 passengers through terminal over busy Christmas peak

More than 180,000 passengers are expected to move through Hobart Airport amid its busiest fortnight of the year, with travellers being warned to expect a “squeezy” terminal.

Christmas Fairy Michelle Pears who is entertaining children awaiting flights in Hobart Airport. Picture: Linda Higginson

The Christmas travel frenzy has begun at Hobart Airport, with about 180,000 passengers expected to make their way through the terminal during the year’s busiest fortnight for flying.

An additional 5-6 flights per day are now coming in and out of the capital city airport as people flock to the mainland and overseas to spend the holiday with friends and family.

Approximately 11,000 passengers are projected to move through the terminal each day between December 20 and January 6, compared to an average of about 8000-9000 people.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter. Picture: Chris Kidd

It comes amid a $130m upgrade to the airport’s runway, which will be finished in June next year and will enable direct long-haul flights to Asia and the Pacific.

The terminal is also undergoing a major $200m redevelopment, including a doubling of the departures area, a new arrivals corridor, expansion of security facilities, additional food and retail outlets, a third baggage reclaim, and a new forecourt.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said the terminal upgrade would be delivered in three stages and completed in 2027, with the new security screening area set to open in June 2025.

While this festive season isn’t the busiest the airport has ever had, Mr Carter said it was “certainly up there”.

A concept design of the Hobart Airport terminal upgrade. Picture: Supplied

“We know it gets a bit squeezy, particularly over Christmas, and so we’re doubling the size of the terminal to create more room,” he said.

The airport currently welcomes about 2.5m passengers through its gates each year and this is projected to grow to 3.5m by 2030.

Mr Carter said the airport’s summer peak was a boon for the state’s tourism industry and “great for Tasmanians going off to the mainland and seeing friends and family”.

Faisal Javed, who was travelling to Pakistan with his wife Somia and children Emaan and Subhan on Monday, said the family’s experience at Hobart Airport had been “very smooth”.

“All the staff are very cooperative. It’s a small airport and less stressful compared to Melbourne and Sydney airports,” he said.

The weekend of January 4-6 will be the most hectic at Hobart Airport, seeing it process more than 34,000 passengers over the three-day period.

Extra staff and volunteers have been recruited to make the frantic peak season more bearable for travellers and there will also be children’s entertainment in the terminal to keep impatient kids happy.

A concept design of the forecourt of the Hobart Airport terminal upgrade. Picture: Supplied

Michelle Pears, a children’s entertainer who is playing the roles of the Christmas fairy and Mrs Bee, said she met and greeted all the kids and their families entering the airport, regaling them with songs and stories.

“If there are delays, I’m here to bring all the fun and joy. And time goes really fast when you’re having fun with the Christmas fairy,” she said.

It’s recommended travellers arrive earlier than usual for their flights over the next two weeks and expect larger queues in the terminal.

Originally published as Hobart Airport to welcome more than 180,000 passengers through terminal over busy Christmas peak