COVID-19 aviation support

Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program

The Regional Airline Network Support program provided support to airlines to maintain a basic level of connectivity across their network of regional routes during COVID-19 from 28 March 2020 to 30 June 2022. The RANS program supported critical air services connecting regional Australia to freight, medical testing, supplies and essential personnel.

The program provided assistance to eligible services on a shortfall subsidy basis, with claims offset by commercial revenue from passengers and freight. The program concluded on 30 June 2022.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—RANS program.

International Airports Security Charges Rebate (IASCR) program

The International Airports Security Costs Rebate (IASCR) program was designed to assist eligible airports to maintain regulated security obligations for international flights that must be met regardless of the reduced volume of aviation activity during the COVID-19 crisis. IASCR closed on 31 March 2022.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—IASCR program.

International Aviation Support (IAS) grants

The Australian Government provided support through IAS grants to the two major Australian international scheduled passenger airlines to maintain a core Australian international aviation capability and ensure our airlines could quickly recommence commercial international flights as international restrictions were lifted. The grants covered the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—IAS grants.

Tourism Aviation Network Support (TANS) program

The Tourism Aviation Network Support (TANS) program was established to reduce the costs for tourists flying to key tourism regions hit hard during COVID-19. Over 800,000 half-price tickets to the identified regions were sold under the program. For its first 6 months, the TANS program also underwrote the cost of additional flights on certain routes to key tourism regions that remained at minimum connectivity levels. The TANS program closed on 28 February 2022.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—TANS program.

Regional Airports Screening Infrastructure (RASI) program

The RASI program assists regional airports with the cost of minimum necessary capital works required to accommodate enhanced security screening equipment funded under the Regional Airport Security Screening Fund (RASSF, GO1551). RASI also provides assistance towards a portion of the initial operating costs associated with meeting enhanced security screening requirements.

Applications for the RASI program have now closed.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—RASI program.

Aviation Services Accreditation Support (ASAS) program

The Aviation Services Accreditation Support (ASAS) program provided grants to businesses providing ancillary support services to the aviation industry; for example, ground handling companies. The ASAS program closed on 31 December 2021.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—ASAS program.

Domestic Airports Security Costs Support (DASCS) program

The Domestic Airports Security Costs Support (DASCS) program provided financial assistance to Australia's eligible domestic airports to assist with the costs associated with mandated passenger and baggage screening requirements that must be met regardless of the volume of aviation activity. The DASCS program closed on 31 December 2021.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—DASCS program.

Retaining Domestic Airline Capability (RDAC) program

The RDAC program assisted airlines to maintain core sovereign domestic aviation capabilities, through the retention of essential aviation sector skills and knowledge. This enabled airlines to increase capacity when border restrictions eased.

The Program operated from 2 August to 31 December 2021.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—RDAC program.

Domestic Aviation Network Support (DANS) program

The Domestic Aviation Network Support (DANS) program provided shortfall subsidies to support airlines operate flights along the top 50 domestic routes between April 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Regional Airlines Funding Assistance (RAFA) program

The Australian Government provided assistance to smaller regional domestic air operators in 2020 to manage cash flow issues experienced as a result of the impacts of the Coronavirus. The RAFA program closed on 31 December 2020.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—RAFA program.

Australian Airline Financial Relief Package (AAFRP)

The Australian Airline Financial Relief Package ran from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020. The package of measures included the refunding of aviation fuel excise and domestic aviation security charges and waiving of Airservices Australia fees.

AAFRP reduced the cost base faced by air operators, improving the financial viability of scheduled and commercial flights.

Further information is available at: GrantConnect—AAFRP.