Flights with Australia’s new low-cost airline are now on sale, with 12 destinations on 15 routes available.
Bonza, which is based on the Sunshine Coast and was granted its Air Operator Certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on January 12, is offering flights starting from $49 per person one way.
“Today we start making travel a possibility for the many, not the few. Forget connecting flights or your bum going numb in the car, Bonza is here to take Aussies from A to B without the C (cost and complexity),” chief commercial officer Carly Povey said.
Travellers are advised to book direct on the Fly Bonza app to get the lowest fares and to score a seat on the airline’s first flights, starting with Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast on Tuesday, January 31.
Flights are available to book up until late October 2023.
“We’re delighted to be delivering on our commitment to make air travel more accessible. We promised choice and better connectivity to the regions for less and we’ve been beyond delighted with the support for our mission,” Ms Povey said.
“It’s important that Aussie travellers know we’re on sale, not having a sale. We’re committed to low-cost fares, which will in turn stimulate new markets for Australia’s domestic tourism industry. We’re confident whenever customers choose to travel, all our fares and not just our starting fares will represent great value.”
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie was looking forward to connecting the region to more destinations across the country than ever before.
“The Sunshine Coast is a wonderful place to holiday and visit and now with Bonza, more people can experience our beautiful region,” Mr Brodie said.
“We also know that our community is excited to be able to visit friends and family across Australia directly from their backyard without having to travel down the Bruce Highway or connect through major city airports.
“Today, 11 destinations from the Sunshine Coast are on sale via the Fly Bonza App and with a total of 13 destinations planned, 10 of which are new for our airport, this is a total game-changer for our region.
“A major goal of Sunshine Coast Airport has always been to connect more people to more destinations and this ambition has now become a reality. Not only will people choose to holiday here, they will also use our airport to easily connect through to other regions making travel for our regional visitors a whole lot easier.”
Bonza’s commencement of services will bring an additional 772,000 seats into Sunshine Coast Airport and is estimated to generate around $86 million in domestic visitor spend in the first 12 months of operation.
“Sunshine Coast Airport is entering a period of significant change and growth, and each of these milestones contributes to the role we play as a major economic enabler across the region,” Mr Brodie said.
“However, there is so much more we intend to do over the coming years, which includes the renovation and construction of the domestic terminal that will undergo significant changes, and planning for an international facility as a permanent fixture of Sunshine Coast Airport.
“We will create jobs, attract investment and support the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games by investing around $1 billion in infrastructure, and the impact on the regional economy will be significant.”
For travellers who have already downloaded the app, they should delete it and reinstall the latest version to have the ability to book flights.
Routes from Bonza’s second base at Melbourne Airport are expected to go on sale in a matter of weeks.
Initial Bonza fares (per person one way)
Sunshine Coast to:
- Albury $69
- Avalon $79
- Cairns $79
- Coffs Harbour $49
- Mackay $59
- Mildura $79
- Newcastle $59
- Port Macquarie $49
- Rockhampton $49
- Townsville $69
- Whitsunday Coast $59
Cairns to:
- Rockhampton $59
- Mackay $49
Newcastle to:
- Whitsunday Coast $79
Rockhampton to:
- Townsville $49
SUBSCRIBE here now for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily!
