Originally Posted by
Airmann
@aroa thanks for the info. So there were state licenses and interstate licenses. So does that system still exist?
Yes.
The States can, and some still do, license routes within their geographical boundaries for
economic reasons - usually to ensure the financial viability and therefore attractiveness to potential operators and, in turn, the reliability of the service (until something like Covid happens...). The Commonwealth licenses the operators for safety reasons - through the issue of Air Operator Certificates.
E.g for Western Australia:
https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/avia...r%20than%20for