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The Federal Government has opened its twelfth round of funding for the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program (RAUP).
Up to $25 million in total is available under the funding round, covering up to 50 per cent of project costs for safety and accessibility upgrades or 100 per cent for eligible Indigenous-owned or operated airstrips, capped at $4 million.
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“As a government we are so proud to continue funding the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, now into its twelfth round,” said Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm.
“The total number of projects funded has ticked over 500, which is a significant achievement, and we know there’s plenty more airstrips across our vast nation that could do with support to upgrade their facilities to improve safety and services.
“The RAUP is another example of our commitment to remote Australia, and delivering the resilient infrastructure that communities need, and businesses require.”
More than $140 million has already committed through the previous eleven rounds of the RAU, and the Australian Airports Association (AAA) has welcomed the new round but said more long-term support is needed.
Acting CEO Natalie Heazlewood pointed to BITRE data showing more than 24 million passenger trips were recorded across regional and remote routes in 2025-26, including more than 5.4 million on remote routes.
“This funding is incredibly important, but we need to move beyond individual grant rounds towards a permanent and sustainable funding mechanism for regional and remote airports,” she said.
“The latest figures show regional aviation is not in inevitable decline. Passenger demand remains strong, even as services are increasingly being consolidated through fewer frequencies and larger aircraft.
“That can mean more passengers are being carried with fewer flights, which makes it even more important to keep a close eye on connectivity, frequency and access for regional communities.
“Regional airports face many of the same fixed costs regardless of how many flights operate. Runway maintenance, security, safety requirements and essential infrastructure upgrades still need to be funded whether an airport receives one flight a day or ten.”
Heazlewood also cited research conducted by the AAA and Regional Capitals Australia showing that 73 per cent of the 41 regional airports surveyed reported a loss for the 2025 financial year.
“Many of these airports are effectively supported by local councils and ratepayers because the connectivity they provide is too important for communities to lose,” she said.
“With the economics of regional and remote aviation already so thin, a permanent funding mechanism from the Federal Government would give airports the certainty they need to maintain critical infrastructure and help ensure communities remain connected.”
Applications for the current RAUP funding round are open until 6 October.
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