Hervey Bay Airport (IATA: HVB[4], ICAO: YHBA) is the main airport for the city of Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia and the Fraser Coast region which incorporates the nearby city of Maryborough.

Hervey Bay Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorFraser Coast Regional Council
ServesHervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
Elevation AMSL60 ft / 18 m
Coordinates25°19′14″S 152°52′54″E / 25.32056°S 152.88167°E / -25.32056; 152.88167
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Map
YHBA is located in Queensland
YHBA
YHBA
Location in Queensland
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
11/29 2,000 6,562 Asphalt
Statistics (2016–2017[1])
Revenue passengers170,052
Aircraft movements3,496
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[2] BITRE[3]

The airport, which is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) southeast of Pialba,[2] re-opened in mid-2005, after the existing airfield underwent an $11.5 million upgrade which included the construction of a new terminal building and the extension of the existing 1,500 m (4,921 ft) runway to 2,000 m (6,562 ft) to accommodate jet services from Virgin Australia.

Up until September 2006, Sunshine Express Airlines provided daily services to the airport from Brisbane. The airline ceased all scheduled operations on 1 October 2006 after a proposed acquisition by Regional Express Airlines was terminated and an intention by QantasLink for the introduction of Brisbane services was announced.[5][6][7]

In 2006, the airport was the fastest growing in Queensland with passenger numbers almost doubling.[8] Currently, plans are underway to further upgrade the airport to handle more jet services from other Australian capital cities. These plans involve the extension of the terminal to twice its current size, as well as a new cross runway (smaller than the main runway) to be used for general aviation purposes.[9][10]

In June 2017, Fraser Coast mayor Chris Loft and JETGO announced that the airline would commence two direct services per week from Hervey Bay Airport to Melbourne's Essendon Airport, as well as direct services to Brisbane. Due to have commenced on 21 July 2017, the service never commenced due to a lack of bookings. Direct services to and from Brisbane were also cancelled after JETGO entered voluntary administration later that year.[11]

Facilities edit

The airport resides at an elevation of 60 ft (18 m) above sea level. It has one runway designated 11/29 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,000 m × 30 m (6,562 ft × 98 ft).[2]

Airlines and destinations edit

AirlinesDestinations
Air Fraser Island Charter: K'gari (Fraser Island)[12]
Jetstar Melbourne (begins 20 June 2024),[13] Sydney[14]
QantasLink Brisbane
Seair Pacific Lady Elliot Island

Statistics edit

Hervey Bay Airport was ranked 39th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year[1] 2016–2017.[3]

Statistics edit

Annual passenger traffic at HVB airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger and aircraft statistics for Hervey Bay[3]
Year[1] Revenue passengers Aircraft movements
2000–2001
42,257
3,669
2001–2002
35,376
3,810
2002–2003
29,058
2,268
2003–2004
28,871
2,111
2004–2005
33,978
2,377
2005–2006
80,984
2,963
2006–2007
170,760
3,907
2007–2008
201,359
3,052
2008–2009
217,952
3,337
2009–2010
164,558
3,060
2010–2011
150,573
2,919
2011–2012
149,368
2,937
2012–2013
151,189
2,970
2013–2014
150,371
3,006
2014–2015
158,033
3,436
2015–2016
163,540
3,614
2016–2017
170,052
3,496

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Fiscal year 1 July – 30 June
  2. ^ a b c YHBA – Hervey Bay (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 21 March 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c "Airport Traffic Data 1985–86 to 2016–17". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2018. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
  4. ^ "Hervey Bay Airport (HVB / YHBA)". Aviation Safety Network.
  5. ^ "Sunshine Express pulls out of scheduled flights". Australian Broadcasting Association. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  6. ^ "Rex Terminates Deal with Sunshine Express". Regional Express Holdings Limited. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  7. ^ "QantasLink to Launch New Services to Hervey Bay and Biloela". Qantas Airways Limited. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  8. ^ Daryl Passmore (29 April 2007). "Airports on a high". The Sunday Mai. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Hervey Bay City Council – Airport Master Plan". Hervey Bay City Council. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  10. ^ "Hervey Bay-Melbourne route sought". The Australian. Retrieved 7 May 2007.[dead link]
  11. ^ "False Start: Flights from Hervey Bay to Melbourne delayed". Fraser Coast Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Fraser Island Flights - Fly in and Land on Fraser Island". 22 June 2022.
  13. ^ Nelson, Jake (14 November 2023). "Jetstar to fly direct between Melbourne and Hervey Bay". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Vanessa (22 February 2021). "Jetstar launch new flight route Sydney to Hervey Bay for $59". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

External links edit