Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme

The Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme (Enroute) 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.

An airline wishing to apply to have a route designated as eligible under the commercial passenger services or aeromedical components of the Scheme should:

  • Read the Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme Guidelines PDF: 472 KB
  • Complete the Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme Application Form DOCX: 128 KB

This process applies for existing as well as new and proposed routes.

Airlines wishing to apply for the designation of more than one route can apply for the consideration of all proposed routes together. However, each route in an application will be assessed separately and not all routes may be found to be eligible.

Key eligibility

To be eligible for the commercial passenger component of the 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 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 can be lodged at any time.

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 funding agreement with the Commonwealth.

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

Enroute Designated Routes

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

  • PORT MACQUARIE and CANBERRA
  • DUBBO and BALLINA
  • NEWCASTLE and SUNSHINE COAST
  • COFFS HARBOUR and CANBERRA
  • ARMIDALE and BRISBANE
  • DUBBO and BRISBANE
  • INVERELL and BRISBANE
  • NARRABRI and BRISBANE
  • ORANGE and BRISBANE
  • TAMWORTH and BRISBANE
  • BILOELA and BRISBANE
  • DUBBO and ESSENDON
  • ORANGE and ESSENDON
  • INVERELL and SYDNEY
  • NARRABRI and SYDNEY
  • KUNUNURRA and KALUMBURU
  • MILDURA and BROKEN HILL
  • PERTH and MONKEY MIA
  • MONKEY MIA and CARNARVON
  • MELBOURNE and KING ISLAND
  • DUBBO and BROKEN HILL
  • GRIFFITH and NARRANDERA
  • SYDNEY and NARRANDERA
  • MORUYA and MERIMBULA
  • CAIRNS and MOUNT ISA
  • LAUNCESTON and KING ISLAND
  • ESSENDON and FLINDERS ISLAND
  • LAUNCESTON and FLINDERS ISLAND
  • Broome, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek
  • 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 Enroute for this route.