Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme

The Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme (Enroute Scheme) provides a subsidy to air operators providing commercial passenger or aeromedical services to regional and remote locations through a reimbursement of the enroute air navigation charges levied by Airservices Australia.

Funding for the Scheme is limited to the annual financial year amounts listed in the Australian Government's Portfolio Budget Statements.

Key eligibility

To be eligible for the commercial passenger component of the Enroute Scheme:

  • the airline has a current Australian air transport (formerly Regular Public Transport (RPT)) Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) that authorises scheduled air transport operations on the route and authorises the aircraft / aircraft type for air transport services;
  • services are to be operated as scheduled air transport operations (unscheduled air transport operations are NOT eligible);
  • the route is to be to/from a Regional or Remote location, as defined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC);
  • the route is serviced by a single operator;
  • the route has no more than 15,000 passenger movements per annum;
  • the route does not otherwise receive a subsidy for flight costs from any level of government;
  • the proposed route is shown to have an economic and/or social impact on the community; AND
  • the aircraft type used on the route has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 15,000Kg or less.

To be eligible for the aeromedical component of the Enroute Scheme:

  • the airline can demonstrate its engagement as a contracted aeromedical provider;
  • the airline has an AOC that authorises these services;
  • the aeromedical services are conducted using aircraft authorised for this purpose;
  • the aircraft used has a MTOW of 15,000Kg or less; AND
  • services operated by the airline are anticipated to include services to/from a Regional or Remote location, as defined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC).

Applications

Applications can be lodged at any time.

An airline considering applying under the commercial passenger services or aeromedical components of the Enroute Scheme in the first instance should email: enroute@infrastructure.gov.au.

Successful applicants flying commercial routes can obtain assistance of up to 60 per cent of the Enroute charge; and up to 100 per cent for new routes for a period of up to three years.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Letter of Agreement with the Commonwealth.

Enroute Designated Routes

The following routes have been designated to a particular airline as eligible under the Enroute Scheme:

  • ARMIDALE and BRISBANE
  • BILOELA and BRISBANE
  • COFFS HARBOUR and CANBERRA
  • DUBBO and BRISBANE
  • DUBBO and MELBOURNE
  • INVERELL and BRISBANE
  • LAUNCESTON and CANBERRA
  • NARRABRI and BRISBANE
  • ORANGE and BRISBANE
  • ORANGE and MELBOURNE
  • KUNUNURRA and KALUMBURU
  • CAIRNS and MOUNT ISA
  • DUBBO and BROKEN HILL
  • GRIFFITH and NARRANDERA
  • KING ISLAND and MELBOURNE
  • MONKEY MIA and CARNARVON
  • MONKEY MIA and PERTH
  • MORUYA and MERIMBULA
  • NARRANDERA and SYDNEY
  • WAGGA WAGGA and MELBOURNE
  • FLINDERS ISLAND and ESSENDON
  • LAUNCESTON and KING ISLAND
  • LAUNCESTON and FLINDERS ISLAND
  • MILINGIMBI and ELCHO ISLAND
  • MANINGRIDA and MILINGIMBI
  • GOVE and GROOTE EYLANDT
  • ELCHO ISLAND and MANINGRIDA
  • GROOTE EYLANDT and DARWIN

If a route is listed above, then this route is considered no longer eligible for another airline to apply for support under the Enroute Scheme for this route.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss any aspects of the Enroute Scheme in more detail, please contact the Department at enroute@infrastructure.gov.au.