The airport – controlled by a Macquarie company associated with the high-cost Sydney airport – is threatening to unilaterally increase the charge per passenger arriving at and leaving Hobart from $8 to $12.

At most airports, it costs the airport operator $1.50 or less to provide infrastructure and services per passenger movement.

Tiger says it will follow Jetstar in moving all or some services to Launceston in northern Tasmania if the price grab goes ahead.

Launceston is operated by the same company that operates Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport, which has been more restrained on charges it levies airlines because of the presence of a competitor, Avalon Airport.

It has also emerged that regional Queensland airport Rockhampton, which Jetstar has announced it will quit, stands to lose even more traffic because Tiger may axe some of its services.

Tiger says it hasn't finalised its new service from Rockhampton, which includes a new service to Brisbane but may lose its non-stop service to Melbourne.

Jetstar is also threatening to reduce services at Darwin, Australia's most expensive airport for airlines.