Expanded terminal at Hobart Airport won’t include airbridge, CEO Norris Carter says

The Hobart Airport has officially unveiled a new 20-year vision for the site, but a “really expensive” addition has been left out. HERE’S WHY + HAVE YOUR SAY>>

An expanded terminal at Hobart Airport will not include an airbridge, according to CEO Norris Carter, who says it would result in higher airfares.

Mr Carter’s comments came after the Mercury revealed the airport’s new 20-year draft master plan, which outlined a proposal to double the size of the terminal and was officially released on Thursday.

Construction is expected to begin within 2-4 years and will increase the terminal’s footprint from 12,000 square metres to 23,000 square metres.

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

The number of passengers travelling through the terminal is projected to increase from 2.8m in 2020 to 5.5m in 2049, necessitating the expansion. The existing terminal is currently operating at more than twice its capacity.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Carter said an airbridge would not factor into the upgrade.

“The challenge with airbridges is that they’re really expensive,” he said.

“An airbridge itself is about $1m. And then you’ve got to make the terminal two storeys to connect it to [it]. So suddenly we’re talking tens – or more – of millions of dollars to do this.

“That would eventually have to find its way into airfares.”

Hundreds of passengers queued for up to 90 minutes in the cold in June last year after a Covid outbreak in Sydney prompted border officials to ask more questions of new arrivals to Hobart than they normally would.

Hobart Airport has announced plans for a doubling of size of its terminal as the centrepiece of its 20 year vision for Tasmania's key gateway. Picture: supplied

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin agreed with Mr Carter that an airbridge would lead to steeper fares, as well as flight delays.

“There are other ways to improve access without the massive expense of airbridges,” he said.

Mr Martin welcomed the release of the draft master plan, saying it was a “big leap” towards creating a “world-class” airport.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the master plan laid out a “strong vision for expansion and growth” at Hobart Airport.

“[It] is a fantastic sign of confidence in not only our world-class tourism industry, but also our booming trade and exports sector,” he said.

Norris Carter CEO Hobart Airport and Matt Cocker, chief operating officer. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The precise cost of the proposed terminal upgrade – which the airport will fund itself – is not yet known, according to Mr Carter.

“It’s in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “It’s a big investment.”

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said on Wednesday that the October budget would include $60m in funding for an upgrade to the airport’s runway.

The draft master plan is open for public consultation until November 2.

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