Lounge at HBA

[Chuq]

Didn't take long http://www.hobartairport.com.au/uploads/Final Master Plan Smaller.pdf - page 41 and 45!

 

[markis10]

"Hobart International" wing/terminal was built in the ?1980s? when there were direct flights HBA to Dunedin (or maybe it was Christchurch). Only lasted a short time. Was vacant for a long time until Virgin adopted it as their arrivals area / baggage reclaim. Trouble is, the departures are in the main terminal. Lounge somehow has to be crafted from not-much-space ....

International flights started in 83 and ended in 98, long enough. VA want to put a lounge where the departures area currently used for international, that requires HBA to give up the idea of international departures in the future as it would take the space, which I don't believe they want to do, so it's a standoff.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks markis10. Gee 15 years - I'm surprised; fallible memory. Thanks also re the lounge plan & reason for standoff. Pity VFF wasn't so forthcoming; doesn't sound hopeful.

 

[bcworld]

From yesterday:

 

[RooFlyer]

Yeah. Last year they were 'planning' for 2013. And I'm currently planning what to do with my lotto winnings.

 

[Tuddy]

Hey all,
Was in HBA yesterday. Realistically will be early 2015 they were saying. Order of events.
Stage 1 - expansion of arrivals hall at the Virgin end with an additional one or two baggage carousels.
Stage 2 - removal of the existing Qantas baggage carousel and replacement with the Lounge. Staff said it'll be slightly bigger than the Qantas Club and have a toilet inside. Will be accessed only from airside through the same corridor as the QP.

Given stage 1 hasn't started yet, early 2015 is looking about right, if not slightly optimistic.

 

[proskyneo]

That sorta makes sense! Departures one end and Arrivals one end, instead of Departures at one end and arrivals.. at either end of the airport.

Although Hobart isn't very big at all, so it's not really a big deal. It'll be hard on those wanting arrivals lounge access maybe

 

[SimonF]

Okay but what about the va lounge in that timeline? 2017?

 

[Chuq]

Maybe an update tomorrow ...

Airport on upward trajectory Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

 

[Tuddy]

Maybe an update tomorrow ...

Airport on upward trajectory Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

If you read the article, it says we'll know the timeline 'before Christmas' - but by all means do feel free to fill me in on what the Mercury has to say on 9/7. Mid-2015 is what I'm hearing for VA Lounge opening

 

[SimonF]

If you read the article, it says we'll know the timeline 'before Christmas' - but by all means do feel free to fill me in on what the Mercury has to say on 9/7. Mid-2015 is what I'm hearing for VA Lounge opening

Any news on this?

 

[Revolio]

All the delays, set-backs and re-calculations of 'construction day 1' of the Virgin Hobart Lounge seem to point to the same place - someone isn't being honest. It's only Hobart - the impact is minimal, keep rolling out the porkies. It's more likely HBA won't be built in the next 10 years than it is than it will. The flying $$$ are simply not there (ATM) to justify it, despite the signage announcing 'international airport'. It would be more honest for Virgin to just blurt out the truth rather than fabricate another commencement timeframe. (early 2017 whispers.......) But will that happen?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

All the delays, set-backs and re-calculations of 'construction day 1' of the Virgin Hobart Lounge seem to point to the same place - someone isn't being honest. It's only Hobart - the impact is minimal, keep rolling out the porkies. It's more likely HBA won't be built in the next 10 years than it is than it will. The flying $$$ are simply not there (ATM) to justify it, despite the signage announcing 'international airport'. It would be more honest for Virgin to just blurt out the truth rather than fabricate another commencement timeframe. (early 2017 whispers.......) But will that happen?

Possibly not lies per se. My guess is the hierarchy assumed their profit margins would have been better with the game change and then they had to delay due to realities. Isn't Darwin in the same boat? Upside (if you can call it that), is that VA profits seem to be back in positive territory so who knows about the future......

 

[777]

I thought both hobart and Darwin are waiting on the airport to make space available? I saw signs up for reconfiguration of ther terminal when I was last in HBA and I assumed VA needed that to happen first?

Would be good to get an official word though.

 

[Clivem]

The 'space' is well and truly built in Darwin ......it has been for months

 

[SimonF]

I thought both hobart and Darwin are waiting on the airport to make space available? I saw signs up for reconfiguration of ther terminal when I was last in HBA and I assumed VA needed that to happen first?

Would be good to get an official word though.

I would have thought Mona would have helped with tourists.

 

[pauly7]

Possibly not lies per se. My guess is the hierarchy assumed their profit margins would have been better with the game change and then they had to delay due to realities. Isn't Darwin in the same boat? Upside (if you can call it that), is that VA profits seem to be back in positive territory so who knows about the future......

HBA is prime territory for an increased presence of Tiger... I wouldn't be surprised at all to see mainline VA dialing back their presence further in Tas and ceding to tigger air

 

[RooFlyer]

HBA is prime territory for an increased presence of Tiger... I wouldn't be surprised at all to see mainline VA dialing back their presence further in Tas and ceding to tigger air

Very large 'dislike' for that

Hopefully Virgin will be aware of some history. When Jetstar first came on the scene, Tasmania was scheduled to be entirely (IIRC) Jetstared. Quite a large ruckus over that, and we retained Qantas, with some Jetstar.

 

[RooFlyer]

I would have thought Mona would have helped with tourists.

No shortage of tourists or other travellers for that matter; the place is bursting at the seams when the flights are about to depart. Its the airport - Macquarie Bank in particular - who just wants to squeeze the lemon too tightly - wants too much from Virgin for the lounge space, and not willing to put own capital in.

 

[SimonF]

HBA is prime territory for an increased presence of Tiger... I wouldn't be surprised at all to see mainline VA dialing back their presence further in Tas and ceding to tigger air

I'm pretty sure the Tasmanian tiger is extinct.