Freight Forwarders and air freight service providers on board to help Australian exporters

UPDATE: In October 2020, the Australian Government committed a further $317.1 million to extend IFAM until the middle of 2021. This is in addition to the $241.9 million injection announced in July 2020.

IFAM Export Grants: Exporters can now apply for grant funding under the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM). View more information here: https://ifam.smartygrants.com.au/exportgrants


The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) is a targeted, temporary, emergency measure put in place by the Australian Government in response to COVID-19. The mechanism provides funding to help keep international freight routes and flights operating into and out of Australia.

IFAM has helped reconnect crucial global supply chains and supported the import of critical medical supplies, equipment and other goods of national importance. It also provides the opportunity, on the outbound legs, for high-value and time-sensitive perishable products to be exported to established markets. To date, IFAM support of flights has enabled over 160,000 tonnes to be exported or committed for export to 66 international destinations between April and early December.

The Australian Government is continually working towards rebuilding critical global supply chains for Australian’s agricultural and fisheries exporters.

Visit the IFAM website for the latest information regarding Freight Forwarders & Air Freight Service Providers providing freight services on key export routes under the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM).

Airlines / Airfreight service providers

  • Air New Zealand Limited
  • Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd
  • Emirates
  • Etihad Airways PJSC
  • Federal Express Corporation
  • Japan Airlines Co. Ltd
  • Singapore Airlines Ltd
  • QANTAS Airways Ltd
  • Qatar Airways Group (Q.C.S.C.)
  • United Airlines Inc.

Freight forwarders

CT Freight Pty Ltd, Schenker Australia Pty Ltd, Kuehne & Nagel Ltd , Toll Group, DHL Global Forwarding (Australia) Pty Ltd

The above networks will link Australia’s agricultural and fisheries producers to export hubs, whilst their experience in handing fresh produce on a large scale will meet the needs of seafood, meat, dairy and horticulture exporters.

With flights now arriving and departing every day, the IFAM is working to restore critical supply chains for the Australian exporters.

How will it work?

*FF = Freight Forwarder. ^Non-IFAM Freight Forwarder will need to work with one of the six IFAM Freight Forwarders to access the mechanism.

The Co-Ordinator General of the IFAM, Mr Michael Byrne, will work with IFAM appointed suppliers to establish efficient logistics processes. The government will meet a portion of the airfreight costs – reducing costs for exporters and ensuring they can export their produce to international customers quickly.

The Mechanism intends to use a range of approaches including charter services and block purchases of capacity. Updates surrounding the Mechanism including further details and communications can be found on the Austrade website: austrade.gov.au/ifam

Exporters need to be registered to access IFAM

Exporters can register their interest by completing and submitting the form available at haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/international-freight-assistance.

IMPORTANT: If you have already submitted an EOI before 16 April 2020, please note that you will need to resubmit the form with additional information. This additional information will inform which air freight routes are prioritised by the IFAM.

Additional freight capacity is available now – contact your Freight Forwarder

While IFAM is progressing toward full implementation, there is additional freight support available in the market; including domestic network flights, international repatriation flights and international commercial freight-only flights.

The best way to access this capacity is through your Freight Forwarder.