On 16 November 2017, the Senate moved that the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 March 2018. On 8 February 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 20 September 2018. On 16 August 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 4 December 2018. On 17 October 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 27 June 2019.

The report was presented on 7 June 2019.

​Submissions should be received by ​5 February 2018.​

The operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities, with particular reference to:

1. social and economic impacts of air route supply and airfare pricing;
2. different legal, regulatory, policy and pricing frameworks and practices across the Commonwealth, states and territories;
3. how airlines determine fare pricing;
4. the determination of airport charges for landing and security fees, aircraft type and customer demand;
5. pricing determination, subsidisation and equity of airfares;
6. determination of regulated routes and distribution of residents’ fares across regulated routes;
7. airline competition within rural and regional routes;
8. consistency of aircraft supply and retrieval of passengers by airlines during aircraft maintenance and breakdown;
9. all related costs and charges imposed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority; and
10. any related matters.