Australia
Trip Support
CASA non-scheduled permits, customs and biosecurity at every port of entry, the Sydney curfew and slots, Melbourne around the clock, Brisbane and Adelaide, and the crossing from the US, from the desk that files Australia for US crews.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 10 September 2026
The working reference
How Australia works for a private flight
Australia is a permit and a curfew. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issues non-scheduled flight permits in about five working days, customs, immigration and quarantine apply at every port of entry, and any clearance away from the terminal is arranged ahead. Sydney runs a curfew from 2300 to 0600 with mandatory slots, and its parking is the dearest in the country. Melbourne runs 24 hours with no slots but has customs gaps in the small hours and mid-afternoon to plan around. Brisbane is open around the clock but customs closes overnight and Border Force wants the passenger data 48 hours ahead. Adelaide has a curfew and no slots. The crossing from the US is the longest the desk plans, a Pacific sector with the tech stop and the ETOPS picture decided before the permit is filed. Biosecurity is strict: the aircraft is treated for insects and the catering is declared. The desk files the CASA permit with the passenger data, books the Sydney slot or picks Melbourne, arranges the off-terminal clearance and plans the crossing.
Permits
CASA non-scheduled flight permits take about five working days. Border Force wants the passenger data 48 hours ahead at Brisbane and the desk sends it everywhere. Customs, immigration and quarantine at every port of entry; off-terminal clearance pre-arranged.
Sydney
Curfew 2300 to 0600, slots mandatory, landing charged by weight, the country's dearest general aviation parking and the most expensive handling. The desk books the slot with the permit and keeps the stay short.
Melbourne
24 hours, no slots, cheaper parking by the six-hour block. Customs gaps roughly 0200 to 0600 and 1430 to 1600 local, so the arrival is planned outside them.
Brisbane and Adelaide
Brisbane: 24-hour operations, customs closed 2300 to 0500, parking by the day, Border Force data 48 hours ahead. Adelaide: curfew 2300 to 0600, no slots.
The crossing
From the US West Coast the Pacific sector needs the tech stop, the ETOPS picture and the crew duty plan decided before the permit is filed. Hawaii and Fiji are the usual stops, each with its own customs and handling.
Biosecurity
Insect treatment of the aircraft on arrival or a certificate, catering declared, and pets under strict quarantine rules. The desk carries the paperwork with the permit.
Guides and updates
Australia articles from the desk
The detailed pieces behind this page, newest first, each with the year it was written and the discipline it belongs to.
Questions
Australia trip support questions
Does a private jet need a permit to land in Australia?
Yes, a CASA non-scheduled flight permit, issued in about five working days, filed with the aircraft documents and the passenger data. The desk files it with the trip.
Can I land in Sydney at night?
No. Sydney runs a curfew from 2300 to 0600 and slots are mandatory. A late arrival goes to Melbourne, which runs 24 hours.
Which Australian airport is easiest for a private jet?
Melbourne: 24 hours, no slots, cheaper parking, with customs gaps in the small hours and mid-afternoon to plan around. Sydney is the tightest and the dearest.
When does customs close at Brisbane?
Between 2300 and 0500, although the airport itself runs 24 hours. Border Force wants the passenger data 48 hours ahead.
Does Adelaide have a curfew?
Yes, 2300 to 0600, with no slots required outside it.
How do I fly to Australia from the US?
A Pacific crossing with a tech stop, usually Hawaii or Fiji, and the ETOPS and crew duty plan decided before the permit is filed. The desk plans the stop and the customs at each end.
What is the biosecurity rule?
The aircraft is treated for insects on arrival or carries a certificate, catering is declared, and pets fall under strict quarantine. The desk carries the paperwork with the permit.
Can I clear customs away from the terminal?
Yes, at a port of entry with prior arrangement. The desk books the off-terminal clearance with the handler.
How much notice does an Australian trip need?
A week for the CASA permit and the Border Force data, longer for a Sydney slot in the peak, and a fortnight to plan the crossing from the US.
What does the desk need to file Australia?
Aircraft documents, passenger and crew passports, the ports of entry, the dates and the routing across the Pacific. It comes back with the CASA permit filed, the Sydney slot or the Melbourne plan, the clearance arranged and the crossing planned.
Get it filed
Flying to Australia? Filed from the desk
Send the dates, the aircraft and the ports. You get the CASA permit filed, the slot booked or the field chosen, the crossing planned, and a number you can hold us to.
Contact UsPrefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email tripsupport@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.