Retaining Domestic Airline Capability Program

Overview

The Retaining Domestic Airline Capability (RDAC) program continues the Australian Government’s ongoing economic response to COVID-19, by providing essential support to domestic airlines during periods of Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer hot spot declarations to ensure it can continue to play an important role in Australia’s recovery from the pandemic. The RDAC program will provide time limited, targeted and proportionate payments to assist domestic airlines ensure they have the capability to quickly ramp up as aviation activity increases when domestic travel and border restrictions ease, which will, in turn, help drive broader economic recovery. Domestic Regular Public Transport (RPT) airlines operating interstate services suffering reductions following a hot spot declaration, will be provided support to be able to stand up and stand down staff as network activity and demand changes, as well as ensuring that necessary aircraft maintenance and associated activities can occur. To be eligible, airlines will need to provide interstate RPT services and be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in their network following the declaration by the Commonwealth CMO of a hot spot.  Airlines can use the funds for eligible costs, based on their operational needs. Eligible costs include replaced wages, aircraft storage costs and other plant and machinery maintenance, and training, licencing and accreditation costs necessary to maintain key staff and equipment in a flight ready state. Eligible domestic RPT airlines will be provided financial support based on the number of employees who are not receiving other COVID-19 financial support, but are impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and border restrictions following the Commonwealth CMO declaring a hot spot. Airlines will be required to maintain their workforce at current levels (total workforce as at 30 July 2021 including those in hotspot locations).