The Grollo family–owned alpine development business Altiset has bought Mount Hotham Airport for more than $6.5 million with plans to develop the land and increase capacity in the area.

The family owns the Mt Buller Chalet Hotel & Suites and Abom Hotel, and ski operations including chairlifts and ski schools as well as many apartments and hotels on the more southern peak.

The airport, which was built for $17.5 million in 1999, once was served by QantasLink from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane but now hosts charter and private flights.

The 105–hectare site is only 10 kilometres from Dinner Plain and a further 10 kilometres from Mt Hotham, putting it in a prime position for accommodation, especially for the staff and seasonal workers in the ski fields.

Currently, workers in alpine areas are struggling to find accommodation, with some resorts resorting to using their lodges to accommodate their staff.

John Castran, who brokered the deal between American company Vail Resorts and local Grollo Group, told the Australian Financial Review at least 1500 beds that could be sold to paying guests were taken up by staff on the ski fields at Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain in winter.

"If half of those beds could be taken off Hotham and Dinner Plan and return to commercial punter beds, that would be a great [business] driver," Mr Castran said.

Property Manager at Grollo Group Martin Ansell said the Mt Hotham site is ideal for building large scale accommodation.

"Hotham Airport has a vast, flat space that is ideal for construction," he said.

The Grollo Group has even more plans for the airport, with the hopes to bring back commercial flights and further connect the ski fields.

"If you could get a flight out of Brisbane straight into Hotham Airport... that is a big game–changer for tourists from Queensland," Mr Ansell said.

"There are a lot of people around Australia who haven't really had access to Mt Hotham."

QantasLink, who ceased operating flights to the airstrip in the early 2010s, told the Mansfield Courier that they have no plans to restart services to Mount Hotham at this time.

The airline operates services to nearby Albury from four capital cities and continues to encourage people to fly into the town to access the Victorian Alps.

Regional Express and Virgin Australia were also contacted, but did not provide comment before publication.

Mr Castran told NEMEDIA that it was not viable to make visitors travel via road after flying into Albury.

"People who fly on aeroplanes don't like travelling on busses," he said.

He also explained that both the airlines and pilots were happy with flying into the airport and the route only closed as flying became more expensive and people used frequent flyer points and sales to buy tickets.

"If you were coming from Perth or coming from Queensland, they used to hub [the passengers] through Melbourne and it used to work so well," Mr Castran said.

Mr Ansell agreed, citing rising prices of international flights as one of many factors increasing demand in the Victorian Alps.

"There is a big demand from China in regards to skiing," he said.

"If you looked at Buller's day trippers and sightseers, there were a large number of people from India, too.

"The sightseers are our next skiiers," Mr Ansell said.

At this point, the Grollo Group is in the planning stage, starting consultation with key stakeholders about what kind of accommodation is needed as well as taking into account environmental, planning and construction complexities.

"Vail is very keen to look at accommodation solutions," Mr Ansell said.

"Anything and everything is on the table."

The sale of the property by Vail is unusual, with the resort company often holding onto assets rather than selling them.

Mr Ansell said that the airport was not regarded as a core asset of the Mt Hotham and Falls Creek resorts which were bought by Vail in 2019 for a price of $174 million.

"Once we explained our ideas of what we wanted to do they were pretty supportive," he said.

"I think it is good for them and good for the region."

The Grollo Group is not only looking at winter sports when it comes to investments.

Noting investments by the Victorian Government in mountain biking infrastructure in the region, Mr Ansell hopes that those travelling in the summer can also benefit from these investments.

"It's a positive for everyone," he said.