Aircraft

Airlines and aircraft operators flying into Australia from overseas must meet biosecurity requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The following information outlines the primary biosecurity responsibilities for airlines and aircraft operators with links to key information relevant to compliant arrival of international aircraft.

• Pre-arrival Reporting (PAR) –the airline or aircraft operator must submit a pre-arrival report if any of the following conditions become apparent to the airline/aircrew on a flight:
  • Ill traveller with Listed Human Disease Symptom (LHDS) or death of a traveller (passenger or crew).
  • Disinsection of the aircraft has not been applied in accordance with departmentally approved methods.
  • Live plants or live animals in the cabin – any animal that the airline including airline staff and aircrew becomes aware of in the cabin of the aircraft.
  • Death of an animal in the cabin.
• Non-Scheduled flights – The airline or aircraft operator of a non-scheduled flight must report additional information to the airport of arrival.

Click on the links below to see the tasks that airlines or aircraft operators must complete, or comply with, when flying into Australia from overseas.

Airline or aircraft operators must ensure the following mandatory tasks are completed when flying into Australia from overseas.

• Airport landing places – First points of entry (FPOE) or applying to land aircraft or goods at a non-first point of entry.
• Mandatory in-flight passenger announcements – the operator of an aircraft must give to all travellers on-board, including crew members, the aircraft information about biosecurity requirements under the laws of the Commonwealth. These announcements, available as PDF statements or videos, must not be edited.
• Aircraft disinsection – mandatory aircraft treatments for arrival in Australia.
• Biosecurity waste management – must be managed by a service provider that has entered into an approved arrangement for biosecurity waste management with the department, or under the department’s supervision on a fee for service basis.
• Biosecurity incidents on-board the arriving aircraft – the operator of an aircraft must report, to the airport of arrival any changes in circumstances on-board the aircraft since the last PAR submitted or decision not to submit a PAR. Biosecurity – Airport Contacts List.
• The Guideline for airline and aircraft operators arriving in Australia provides a consolidated guidance of the above requirements. Biosecurity information is also reflected in the Air services Australia - Aeronautical Information Pack (AIP).

Infrastructure Development by Australian Airport Operators

Port operators seeking to introduce international services at a port where border services are not currently provided; or anticipating changes to an existing business model that impact on existing border services, must apply through the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. Port operators are encouraged to contact Infrastructure early in the development of a proposal.

The Australian Government has established this clear, transparent, and consistent process to help ensure that border services are available at ports when they are required. This approach allows border agencies to continue to provide high quality, critical border services to ensure border integrity and the safety of the Australian community, as the number of international travellers continue to grow.