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.

The aim of the program is to provide regional and remote communities with access to essential air services that can in turn connect these smaller communities with the rest of Australia. The Scheme supports regional commercial airlines operating low volume and new routes to regional and remote communities; as well as aeromedical providers.

The Government's policy for aviation encourages the growth of regional aviation services across Australia and the expansion of the current network by giving impetus for operators to test whether a new route can be commercially viable in time.

The program is administered according to the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines (CGRGs).

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.

Applications can be lodged at any time.

To apply for this opportunity please submit your application via email to enroute@infrastructure.gov.au.

Subject to the availability of funding for commercial passenger services: 

• preference will be given to new eligible routes that commenced on or after 1 July 2014; 
• preference will then be given to existing services that provide a link from a regional location to its nearest regional centre and/or that State’s or Territory’s capital city; 
• preference will then be given to existing services that provide linkages to inter-state capital cities or other centres.

To be eligible you must: 

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN);
• be registered for the purposes of GST; 
• be a permanent resident of Australia;
• have an account with an Australian financial institution; and 
• be one of the following entity types: 
  • a company incorporated in Australia
  • a company incorporated by guarantee
  • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust 
  • an incorporated association
  • a limited partnership
  • a joint application
  • a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

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).

• Email: enroute@infrastructure.gov.au