International Air Services Information Memorandum

Register of available capacity for Australian international airlines

Last updated: 5 May 2025.

International Airline Licences—The Application

Administrative details

International airline licences – introduction

Who needs to apply?

General

Any airline proposing to operate scheduled international air services over*, into or out of Australian territory requires an International Airline Licence (IAL) before it can commence services. This includes cargo only operations.

International airline licences – maintaining licence status

Compliance Declaration Form

International Airline Licence (IAL) holders are required to comply with a simple self-assessment audit scheme to maintain their IAL and continue conducting scheduled international air services to and from Australia.

In order to comply, IAL holders must download, complete and lodge a Compliance Declaration Form (CDF) with the department every six (6) months, declaring their compliance with licence conditions.

International airports

International airports are airports designated by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport as international airports in accordance with section 9 of the Air Navigation Act 1920. View the list of current designated international airports in Australia.

Temporary Licence Applications and Variations

Received

February 2019

Maritime business

The Department consults with industry on a range of policy measures including amendments to liability and insurance standards for the maritime industry, and tax incentive operations for Australian corporations with eligible Australian registered vehicles. In addition the department provides operations to uphold its commitment to continuing a vibrant and efficient maritime industry through the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012.

Cape Town Convention

The 2001 Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the associated Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment (together known as the ‘Cape Town Convention’) facilitate the financing of aircraft by:

Air Carriers' liability and insurance

Australia's carriers" liability and insurance arrangements are outlined in the Civil Aviation (Carriers" Liability) Act 1959 (the CACL Act).

The Act gives the force of law to a number of passenger liability frameworks, including those arising under the ‘Warsaw System’, the Montreal Convention, and a separate system of liability for domestic travel.

The liability framework for domestic passenger travel is created under Part IV of the Act, and is complemented by state government legislation to create a national uniform scheme.
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