DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Question No. 1893 Senator Murray Watt asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, in writing, on 4 September 2020: With reference to COVID-19 funding for regional airlines: 1. For each airline approved for funding under the $198 million COVID-19 regional airlines network support program, can the following information be provided: a. The total maximum grant funding approved under the program, and the date that this approval was given; b. For each month since that approval, the full amount paid to each airline under the program, and the date of each payment; and c. The remaining funding available under the program to each airline. Senator Cash – The Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development has provided the following answer to the honourable Senator’s question: Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program Table 1 shows for each airline: the maximum grant funding available, the date the grant was executed; the date the grant funding commenced, and the remaining funds available. Table 1: Current grant agreements under RANS to 30 September 2020 Grant Total Max. Funding Airline Agreement Grant Funding** Remaining** Executed Commencement* Pelican Airlines 19-Apr-20 28/3/2020 $1,890,925.04 $851,913.53 Fly Corporate (Link Airways) (Trading as Vee H Aviation) 21-Apr-20 04/05/2020 $4,523,727.52 $2,217,190.54 Regional Express 19-Apr-20 28/3/2020 $40,389,978.43 $18,041,526.15 Qantas Group 7-Jul-20 01/07/2020 $37,294,300.00 $37,294,300.00 Skippers 20-Apr-20 27/04/2020 $1,563,632.86 $902,444.86 Virgin Australia 6-Jul-20 01/07/2020 $11,343,466.64 $11,343,466.64 Airnorth (Trading as 04/05/2020 Capiteq Pty Ltd) 23-Apr-20 $13,549,160.00 $11,006,482.70 Eastern Air Services 21-Apr-20 28/3/2020 $328,185.34 $180,041.06 Air Link 28-Apr-20 28/3/2020 $380,522.36 $73,219.40 Sharp Airlines 28-Apr-20 01/05/2020 $547,526.40 $205,566.36 Aviair 28-Apr-20 04/05/2020 $1,107,210.87 $639,983.38 Hardy Aviation 1-May-20 01/05/2020 $1,528,605.72 $1,159,002.77 Chartair 15-May-20 15/05/2020 $245,794.34 $141,797.92 Alliance Airlines 14-May 20/04/2020 $419,184.00 $322,623.51^ King Island Airlines 27-July-20 30/03/2020 $166,659.89 $104,638.89 * Under the Grant Guidelines, airlines can elect to commence their grant agreement at any time from 28 March, with payments backdated. All grant agreements expire 30 September 2020, with the exception of Alliance Airlines who elected not to extend their grant agreement beyond 30 June 2020. ** As at 31/08/2020. ^ Unused, as grant has expired. Payments are made to airlines after receipt of invoices not monthly. .