The southernmost and only island state of Australia, Tasmania has been without any direct international flights since 1998 when Air New Zealand suspended its connection to Christchurch. Since that date, there have been many discussions between Hobart Airport, the Tasmanian Government with both international and domestic airlines. Despite hosting 307,000 international visitors per year in 2018, no airline has made an attempt to launch an international route from Tasmania.

However, today this all changed when Air New Zealand announced firm plans to return to Hobart Airport (HBA), this time with flights from its major hub at Auckland Airport (AKL). However, no firm date for the launch has been set as border closures in New Zealand are still a major road block Air New Zealand must overcome if it is to launch these highly anticipated international flights.

Over the past two days, positive engagement has been made by both New Zealand and Australia regarding the establishment of a Trans-Tasman travel bubble, which would allow free travel between the two countries. So far, Australia has reopened its border to New Zealand and New Zealand is currently working on a plan to reopen its international border to Australia. Meanwhile, according to local New Zealand media outlets the bubble could be established as early as “mid-April 2021.”

Once the travel bubble has been agreed upon and implemented, Air New Zealand will be all clear to launch its new route from Auckland to Hobart. A spokesperson for Air New Zealand outlined that the route will operate initially at a twice-weekly frequency on Thursdays and Sundays, using the carrier’s brand new Airbus A320neo aircraft. These aircraft are configured in an all-economy configuration with 165 seats in a low-density configuration.

At the launch announcement of the new route today, Air New Zealand’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Leanne Geraghty stated the new route would be significant as it is the first new international route launched by Air New Zealand since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also stated this would be the first time Air New Zealand has operated to Tasmania since the cessation of its Christchurch to Hobart flights in 1998.

So far, the federal government has approved the Auckland to Hobart route for 130 flights per year, meaning 540,000 seats per year will be available for Tasmanians to travel abroad on direct flights once again. Tickets for the new route are due to go on sale to customers when firm dates for the Trans-Tasman Bubble are announced by the New Zealand Government.

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Source: https://aeronewsx.com/tasmania-to-get-its-first-international-route-in-over-two-decades/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tasmania-to-get-its-first-international-route-in-over-two-decades