Hobart International International Airport in Tasmania could resume scheduled international operations early next year if plans to export locally prodcued milk to China go ahead.

According to Bloomberg, Chinese-backed Moon Lake Investments Pty. acquired Tasmanian dairy producer Van Diemen’s Land Co. in March of this year and has since begun talks with unspecified carriers to start a weekly Ningbo-Hobart cargo service during the first quarter of next year. The service will cater specifically to the dairy market, and may increase to up to 3x weekly if demand warrants it. Beijing Capital may also be added at a later stage.

Hobart last saw scheduled international service back in 1998 when Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) ended flights from Christchurch. At present, the only known commercial carriers to service the city include: Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Tigerair Australia, Virgin Australia International, and Skytraders (charters to Antarctica).