Long distance air services
To ensure that regional and remote Queensland communities have access to essential services such as health, education and employment, we regulate select air services.
We regulate services where demand is too low for the route to be commercially viable for the operators. Through regulation and service contracts with delivery partners, we deliver reliable air services with capped maximum fares to 23 regional Queensland communities.
Regional aviation community engagement update
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has exercised an optional extension available under the current regional aviation service contracts.
The current regional aviation contracts will now expire on 31 December 2027.
The amount of feedback received through the regional aviation community engagement process was significant and will help to ensure any future network improvements are sustainable, fit for purpose and responsive to the needs of regional communities.
This extension will ensure regional aviation services continue while the Queensland Government considers opportunities to improve the network, informed by the extensive community engagement recently undertaken across regional Queensland. The Department of Transport and Main Roads will continue to provide updates as developments occur.
View the regional air services map.
Regulated air services—effective from January 2022
| Route name | Route details | Operator (from 1 January 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Central 1 | Brisbane–Roma–Charleville | Regional Express (REX) |
| Central 2 | Brisbane–Barcaldine/Blackall–Longreach | QantasLink |
| Western 1 | Brisbane–Toowoomba–St George–Cunnamulla–Thargomindah | Regional Express (REX) |
| Western 2 | Brisbane–Toowoomba–Charleville–Quilpie–Windorah–Birdsville–Bedourie–Boulia–Mount Isa |
Regional Express (REX) |
| Northern 1 | Townsville–Winton–Longreach | Regional Express (REX) |
| Northern 2 | Townsville–Hughenden–Richmond–Julia Creek–Mount Isa | Regional Express (REX) |
| Gulf* | Cairns–Normanton–Mornington Island–Burketown–Doomadgee–Mount Isa | Regional Express (REX) |
*Gulf route may stop at Karumba during the wet season.
We are currently engaging on these regulated air services, and future air service requirements, see below.
Bookings
Contact our service delivery partners for bookings and information:
- QantasLink—13 13 13
- Regional Express (REX)—13 17 13.
Our service delivery partners control all operational matters, including check-in, boarding, in-flight services and baggage services.
The maximum price caps are made by agreement between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the operators. All fares below the maximum fare price are at the discretion of the operator.
Contact us
Contact us with any questions you have about regulated air services in Queensland:
- Phone: 13 23 80
- Email: [email protected]
More information
- Declaration of air service contract routes—made 28 September 2002
- Revocation of service contract routes—3 routes were deregulated from 1 January 2015
- Long distance air services map
- Last updated
- 11 September 2026