For the communities that rely on regional airports to move patients to hospital, receive fresh food, or access markets beyond their postcode, a crumbling runway or a broken fence isn’t an inconvenience. It’s a crisis.
The Australian Government has opened Round 5 of the Regional Airports Program, making $15 million available in competitive grant funding for safety and accessibility upgrades at regional airports and aerodromes across the country. Applications are open now and close on 28 July 2026.
What the funding covers
Grants range from $20,000 to $5 million, with successful applicants able to claim up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. The program funds a wide scope of works, including runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting installation, drainage and airside ambulance and passenger shelters. Round 5 also extends to infrastructure supporting the transition to net zero aviation, including electric chargers and hydrogen fuel storage for aircraft operations.
Safety training for airport operational personnel is also an eligible cost, a practical inclusion for smaller aerodromes that may lack the resources to maintain compliance standards without targeted support.
Who can apply
Owners and operators of existing airports or aerodromes in regional areas of Australia are eligible to apply. The airport must be classified as Inner Regional or Outer Regional under the 2021 Australian Statistical Geographic Standard, and must have had annual passenger throughput below 300,000 in 2024. Projects must be completed by 30 December 2028.
Applications are assessed against three criteria: demonstrated need (50 points), capacity and capability to deliver (25 points), and the impact of the grant on the project (25 points).
A program with runs on the board
Four previous rounds have funded 239 projects and delivered over $120 million to airports and aerodromes across the country.
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has been direct about the stakes: “In regional Australia where aircraft can double as the local postie, the shopping cart or the ambulance, having safe, secure and modern facilities aren’t optional, they’re essential.”
Regional airports frequently operate without the commercial revenues that sustain metropolitan facilities. For many, these grants are the primary mechanism for maintaining infrastructure to a standard that meets modern safety and operational requirements, let alone preparing for the energy transition ahead.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Business Grants Hub portal. Full eligibility criteria and grant opportunity guidelines are available at Regional Airports Program – Round 5.
The deadline is 5:00pm AEST, 28 July 2026.
