SIA, Cathay Pacific in talks to launch non-stop flights to Tasmania: Australian state premier

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans travelling to Tasmania could have an easier time getting there, with national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) in discussions to launch non-stop flights to the Australian island state.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed on Nov 18 that the state government is in talks with SIA and Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific to establish direct flights from Asia to Hobart, the capital of the Australian state.

“These are two world-leading air carriers, and we’d love to see them flying direct to Hobart,” Mr Rockliff said in an interview with news outlet Pulse Tasmania. He also shared news of the potential flights on his social media pages.

At present, travellers to Hobart from Singapore will have to take either a domestic flight within Australia or a ferry from Melbourne.

SIA did not confirm it is in talks to launch a non-stop service to Hobart, saying only that it reviews its network and the destinations it serves regularly.

“Should there be any new additions to our network, we will announce them publicly at the appropriate time,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

The Straits Times has also contacted Cathay Pacific for comment.

The potential non-stop service between Singapore and Tasmania will be possible because of a A$130 million (S$113 million) upgrade to Hobart Airport’s runway.

When completed in mid-2025, the upgrade will allow the airport to receive fully loaded long-haul wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

Travel agents told ST that a non-stop flight between the two cities, at the right price, could be a big draw for Singapore travellers looking for other places to visit in Australia.

Ms Alicia Seah, co-founder of online travel platform 3Playtopia, said most travellers from Singapore would have visited many other parts of Australia, such as Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Establishing direct flights to Hobart would make Tasmania a draw, especially since the state is well known for its outdoor activities, scenery, unique wildlife and golf courses, she added.

Mr Jeremiah Wong, assistant director of marketing communications at Chan Brothers Travel, said Tasmania is increasingly favoured by Singaporean travellers seeking a more tranquil getaway.

“Direct flight connectivity between Singapore and Hobart would significantly enhance travel convenience by reducing layovers and transfer times, offering greater flexibility in our itinerary planning,” he added.

Independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie of Sobie Aviation said Hobart and Tasmania are attractive destinations, but the overall size of the market is small and inbound traffic is highly seasonal.

This makes it challenging for an airline to sustain regular flights to and from Singapore without significant promotion and incentives, he added.

There is also likely to be limited premium traffic on the route, which could suggest a low-cost carrier – such as Scoot – taking it on instead of SIA, Mr Sobie said.

With the right support, a low-frequency seasonal Singapore-Hobart service may be possible, he noted.

Airport operator Changi Airport Group said it welcomes airlines interested in launching services to new destinations, as this expands the airport’s connectivity and provides travellers with more options.

It noted that more than 4.7 million passengers flew between Singapore and Australia in the first nine months of 2024, making Australia Changi Airport’s fourth-largest market after China, Indonesia and Malaysia.