Hobart-Perth flights kick off with Qantas as state sees influx of tourists with borders reopening
With flights from Hobart to Canberra selling out, Qantas has turned its attention to a new direct destination for the first time to make the most of borders reopening. ALL THE BEST DEALS >>
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FLIGHTS from Hobart to Canberra are selling out and Qantas will for the first time fly direct between Tasmania’s capital and Perth as eager travellers make the most of borders opening.
It comes as tourism operators begin to reap the benefits of Tasmanian borders reopening to most Australian states and territories — and New Zealand — from last week.
Link Airways’ recently launched flights to the nation’s capital, the first time a service has been offered since 2013, are almost sold out until Christmas.
The airline’s general manager Jeff Boyd said the company was “astounded” by the uptake in the flights, which take off from Thursday four times weekly, earlier than an intended December 3 start date.
“There is a lot of family connection between Hobart and Canberra,’’ he said.
“A lot of the people travelling are family members visiting each other now borders are open again.”
Mr Boyd said the high sale numbers were also driven by Canberrans looking to explore Tasmania and of course, politicians and bureaucrats.
He said the flights were permanent — having been planned since February — with the possibility of a higher frequency in the future.
Qantas’s Hobart-Perth direct route will start on November 14 with three flights per week, initially until January 31 with more than 6000 seats between Hobart and Perth over the summer season.
A search for the flights online yesterday showed a $721 for a round trip with the flight leaving Hobart at 6pm Tasmanian time arriving in Perth at 7.35pm Western Australian time after a 4hr 35 min flight.
The time zones on the return trip aren’t so friendly with a 10.15am Perth take off showing the four-hour flight touching down at 5.15pm in Hobart.
The direct flight will save travellers about four hours on a round trip, compared with flying via Melbourne.
Qantas domestic and international CEO Andrew David said the new service had already been popular.
“Direct flights will make it easier for Western Australians to discover Tasmania and give locals more options to visit Perth,’’ he said.
Hobart Airport Acting CEO Matt Cocker said new flights were constantly being added to the schedule.
“We expect to see the number of flights increase in the lead up to Christmas,” he said.
“We are still a long way from where we were this time last year, but it is really encouraging to see passengers returning to the airport in such numbers.”
Tourism operators are reporting the first interstate visitors in six months trickling in since last week.
The Port Arthur Historic reported the return of tourists to the Tasman Peninsula, but are still operating on reduced hours until visitation increases.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary owner Greg Irons said he has seen a few interstate visitors but expects it will take some time for interstate holiday makers to build-up confidence and make travel plans.
“People are hesitant to take time of work and make plans in case borders close again, these are uncertain times and anything can happen,” he said.
“I feel the interstate travellers in this first wave are booking to see family or travelling for work,” he said.
“In the second or third wave of interstate travellers we might see those other visitors who want to see the sights.”
To book visit Qantas.
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