Tasmanian envoy in Hong Kong as efforts for international flights ramp up
HONG Kong to Hobart flights could be on the cards, with an envoy in the city to spruik international flights to Tasmania.
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DIRECT flights between Hobart and Hong Kong is a key target of the high-level team forging tourism links with Asia and planning for the return of international services at the state’s major airport.
The Sunday Tasmanian can reveal representatives from the Hobart Airport and the State Government are in Hong Kong investigating direct flights to the state’s capital from major Asian centres, with a Hong Kong link firmly on the radar.
The $40 million extension of the airport runway will be opened in March and Hobart Airport chief executive Sarah Renner said talks were under way with prospective partners in Asia.
“Hobart Airport is in discussions with a number of international airlines to provide direct flights to and from Hobart following the completion of the runway extension,” she said.
“Currently we have airport representatives in Hong Kong, pitching for direct international services between Hobart and Asia.
“Discussions are ongoing, but we are hopeful that we will be able to provide further details in the New Year.”
Representatives from the Government are also spruiking the state’s business case.
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The Sunday Tasmanian understands the plan is for direct flights to Hobart from Hong Kong, and then via Melbourne on return to Asia.
There are four commercial airlines that fly out of Hong Kong — Cathy Pacific, Cathay Dragon, formerly known as Dragonair, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express.
But, it isn’t just Hong Kong-based airlines that Hobart Airport and the State Government are pursuing.
Last year, Hong Kong International Airport handled 70.5 million passengers, with flights going to and from more than 50 destinations on the Chinese mainland.
And the gateway city is connected to the mainland via the world’s longest bridge over water.
Tasmania Premier Will Hodgman said Hong Kong wasn’t the only Asian destination being looked at.
“[The airport runway] will be officially opened in the coming months and that will provide the capacity for more international flights being considered by airlines that are actively looking at the state,” Mr Hodgman said.
“We have our access aviation team in markets as we speak, working with major carriers to
partner with them, and now the facilities are capable of taking international flights, we’ve
got a much stronger case to pitch to airlines.
“Now the options and opportunities exist in China, South East Asia, there’s always talk about destinations a little closer to home, Singapore, potentially New Zealand as well.”
Last week a survey found Tasmania was attracting international tourists at a rate that was outperforming every other state.
Previously, months of talks between Tourism Tasmania and Singapore Airlines resulted in the carrier choosing Canberra over Hobart.
However, China Eastern Airlines has signalled its intent to fly into Hobart in the past.
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