International Airline Licences—The Application

Administrative details

Download the Application

How to submit the Application

Applications for International Airline Licences (IALs) may be submitted by email or post.

Email to:

InternationalAirline.Licences@infrastructure.gov.au

Post to:

Assistant Secretary
International Aviation Branch
International Aviation, Technology and Services Division
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 594
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

All applications must be signed by an authorised representative of the applicant airline (further details on 'signature' are provided below) before submission. For applications submitted by email, electronic (i.e. scanned) signatures will be accepted.

For your convenience, a downloadable application template is available to assist you in your IAL application (see above).

The template may be altered as necessary, but all applicants must take responsibility to ensure their final application meets all formatting requirements outlined below.

Please note that incomplete applications will be accepted by the Department at the applicant's risk.

Title

The application should be titled "An Application for an International Airline Licence—by (full registered name of airline)".

back to top

Timing of Licence Application

The application should be forwarded to the Department at least sixty (60) days before the date of commencement of the proposed services or other such period as agreed by the Department.

General Formatting

The pages of an application should be consecutively numbered and paragraphs should be titled identically with the corresponding items in this guide.

The application should include the information requested below and any further information the applicant considers may clarify aspects of the application.

Caption

The following caption must be included in the application:

"The undersigned applies for permission pursuant to the Air Navigation Act 1920 and the Air Navigation Regulation 2016 to conduct scheduled international air services to and from Australia and certifies that the facts stated in the application are true and that the copies of any documents attached to the application are true copies".

Contact details of applicant

Applicants are to provide the names of the heads of the following components of the organisation, together with postal and street addresses and relevant telephone numbers and email addresses.

  • Head Office
  • Operating Headquarters
  • Australian Offices (where applicable for foreign operators)
    • Australian Management
    • Marketing
    • Airport(s)

Note: Both foreign and Australian international airlines are required to maintain a published Australian phone number. Failure to ensure Australian consumers have access to customer assistance without having to make an international phone call may result in the rejection of an IAL application.

Attached documents

Please provide a table of contents identifying all attached documents in accordance with the relevant part of the application.

Signature

The original of the application shall be signed:

  • by the applicant, if an individual, who is sole owner;
  • by each member of a partnership; or
  • if a registered company or corporation, by an officer or officers of the company or corporation duly authorised to submit such applications on behalf of the company or corporation.

The status of the signatory must be indicated in terms of one of the above business structures. Copies of appropriate authorisations must be attached to the application.

As indicated above, electronic signatures will be accepted where applications are submitted to the Department by email.

back to top

Company profile

Applicants are required to supply particular information in relation to their company profile. In particular, applicants must provide evidence of:

The present corporate existence of the applicant

  • This includes evidence of the relevant Australian and/or foreign company number, the incorporation or business name registration, and a copy of any Act, Memorandum and Articles of Association, certificate of incorporation, or other instrument, from which the company or corporation derives its powers and functions. This documentation should be supplied both in relation to the country where the applicant is headquartered and Australia (whichever is applicable); and

Nationality of Ownership and Control

  • Proof of the nationality of the interests holding substantial ownership and effective control of the applicant should be supplied; or

Principal place of business and/or incorporation (where applicable)

  • The applicant should supply evidence showing the applicant's main place of operations.

Nationality of ownership and control and principal place of business requirements may be satisfied by providing an extract from your home business register (such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission for Australian airlines) that indicates company shareholding and control.

back to top

IASC Determinations (Australian Applicants Only)

Australian applicants for an IAL will need to have an allocation of capacity from the International Air Services Commission (IASC) prior to the grant of a licence.

The applicant should quote the IASC Determination number.

back to top

Air Operator's Certificate

Operators of aircraft seeking to operate scheduled international air services will be required to obtain from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). Information regarding applications for AOCs can be obtained from the CASA website, or by writing to:

International Operations
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
GPO Box 2005
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

Email: international_ops@casa.gov.au

The Department will not finalise an application for an IAL until a relevant AOC has been approved by CASA.

Note: Applicants for a limited code share only IAL and applicants intending to use wet-leased aircraft for proposed services are not required to supply this information in their application. However, such applicants are required to provide details of the operating airline in the proposed code share or wet-lease arrangement and are responsible for ensuring the operating airline has an approved AOC for the proposed services.

back to top

Insurance

Applicants are required to supply a copy of an insurance contract or certificate from an insurer evidencing that appropriate insurance is held by the applicant in relation to the following:

  • passenger liability;
  • third party liability;
  • cargo and baggage liability; and
  • injury and loss as a result of active hostilities or civil unrest (war risk insurance).

Passenger liability

Each carrier who carries passengers for hire or reward to or from Australia, or within Australia, is required to have in place passenger liability insurance which ensures that compensation will be paid in respect of death or personal injury suffered by passengers on the carrier's aircraft.

CASA is responsible for administering and enforcing the Commonwealth and State compulsory insurance schemes under Part IVA of the Commonwealth Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959, the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Regulations 2019 and complementary State legislation.

Carriers are required to have appropriate insurance to be able to carry passengers on a commercial flight. The requirement also extends to any cargo carrier who transports persons who are not active flight crew members (e.g. cargo handlers, security guards, animal minders) on a cargo flight. Details of the requirements are available from the:

Carriers' Liability Insurance Unit
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
GPO Box 2005
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

Telephone: (02) 6217 1131 (international +61–2–6217 1131))

Third party liability

Under the Damage by Aircraft Act 1999, Australian law provides for strict and unlimited liability for compensating third parties on the ground suffering death, injury or damage from aircraft within the Commonwealth's jurisdiction. It is a commercial decision of airlines to decide what insurance cover should be held. The Australian Government will assess whether the cover is appropriate for the level of an airline's operations in Australian territory.

Injury and loss as a result of active hostilities or civil unrest (war risk insurance)

The amount of war risk insurance covering passengers, hull and third party damage on the ground is a commercial matter for the airline. The Australian Government will assess whether the cover is appropriate for the level of an airline's operations in Australian territory.

back to top

Transport Security Program

Applicants are required to provide a copy of a certificate of approval for a TSP for the proposed services. TSPs are approved by the Department of Home Affairs in accordance with the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and related regulations.

Applicants should contact the Department of Home Affairs, Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre for further information by email to:

guidancecentre@homeaffairs.gov.au

Guidance material for the preparation of transport security programs for Prescribed Air Services has been developed, and is available at the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre website.

Note: Applicants for a limited code share only IAL and applicants intending to use wet-leased aircraft for proposed services are not required to supply this information in their application. However, such applicants are required to provide details of the operating airline in the proposed code share or wet-lease arrangement and are responsible for ensuring the operating airline has a relevant TSP for the proposed services.

back to top

Timetables and tariffs

Before air services may commence, and in conjunction with the issue of an IAL, applicants are required to separately submit details of proposed timetables to the Department. Timetable details should include the type of aircraft to be used for each scheduled international air service in accordance with regulations 14 and 29 of the Air Navigation Regulation 2016.

Licensees are not required to provide details of proposed tariffs unless the Secretary directs that they be submitted for approval.

back to top

Compliance with Aircraft Noise Standards (use of non-chapter 3 aircraft)

Under the Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise) Regulations 2018, subsonic jet aircraft that do not comply with the standards provided in Chapter 3, Volume I of ICAO Annex 16 ('Chapter 3') must not engage in air navigation in Australia.

The regulations provide limited exceptions for the operation of aircraft that is to be used solely for a purpose in the public interest. In this instance, the operator must lodge an IAL Application in writing to the Secretary of the Department, stating the public interest grounds relied on.

Additional information regarding aircraft noise regulations for air navigation in Australian airspace is available.

back to top

Request for supplementary material

The applicant must supply such additional information as the Secretary to the Department may require.

Last updated: 22 April 2024