Airports Regulations 2024

The Airports Regulations 2024 establish the regulatory framework for Australian airports under Part 2 (Leasing and Management) and Part 3 (Land Use, Planning and Building Controls) of the Airports Act 1996. Key provisions include grounds for refusing airport lease transfers (section 8), criteria for approving airport management agreements (section 9), prohibited and mandatory terms for subleases and licences (sections 10-13), and master plan content requirements including environmental strategy details (sections 15-17). The regulations apply to airports designated under the Act and are administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

Airport operators, lessees, and entities holding or seeking airport leases or management agreements must ensure compliance with these regulations. Affected parties should review their existing agreements against the mandatory terms in sections 11 and 13, and ensure any master plans comply with the new content requirements for environmental strategies. Non-compliance with the statutory requirements under the Airports Act 1996 and these regulations may result in regulatory action by the administering Department.