Overview
The Remote Air Services Subsidy (RASS) Scheme is part of the Australian Government's Regional Aviation Access Program (RAAP).
The RASS Scheme subsidises a regular weekly air transport service for the carriage of passengers and goods such as educational materials, medicines, fresh foods and other urgent supplies to communities in remote and isolated areas of Australia. Due to the distances involved and with road access to many communities often cut for several months during the wet season, a regular air service offers the only reliable means of transport.
A RASS community is typically a pastoral lease or a First Nations community with a population ranging from six to approximately 200 people. The population of a typical RASS community may change during the mustering or wet season.
There are 10 geographic regions under the RASS Scheme, with six air operators contracted by the Australian Government to provide a regular air transport service. The RASS scheme subsidises flights to up to 276 remote communities throughout Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, including many First Nations communities.
A list of the regions, communities serviced, and the current air operator contracts are provided below.
Regions
| Region Number | Region Name | Service Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilbara, Western Australia | Passenger and Freight and Freight Only |
| 2 | Kimberley, Western Australia | Passenger and Freight and Freight Only |
| 3 | Channel Country, South Australia and Queensland | Freight Only |
| 4 | Cape Barren Island, Tasmania | Passengers Only |
| 5 | Cape York, Queensland | Passenger and Freight |
| 6 | Gulf Country, Queensland | Passenger and Freight |
| 7 | North of Tennant Creek, Northern Territory | Passenger and Freight and Freight Only |
| 8 | South of Tennant Creek, Northern Territory | Freight Only |
| 9 | Tri-State Desert Country, Western Australia | Passenger and Freight |
| 10 | Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands), South Australia | Passenger and Freight |
Communities Serviced
- DocumentList of communities serviced (141.55 KB)
Contracted Air Operators
| Air Operator | Region Contracts |
|---|---|
| Air Kimberley | 1 and 2 Freight Only |
| Aviair | 1 and 2 Passenger and Freight |
| Airlines of Tasmania (Par Avion) | 4 |
| Chartair | 7 and 9 |
| Chinta Air | 3 |
| Northern Territory Air Services | 5, 6, 8 and 10 |
Air operators are contracted with the Australian Government for a fixed term and are selected in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
The RASS subsidy is paid directly to the air operator. Air operators providing air services under the RASS Scheme are required to service specified RASS communities.
Australia Post has responsibility for the delivery of mail and may have separate contracts with RASS air operators for this purpose. All matters concerning the delivery of mail should be directed to Australia Post.
Application process for communities
Communities wishing to apply for a regular air service under the RASS Scheme should email: RASS@infrastructure.gov.au.