Australia’s newest low cost carrier, Bonza Airlines recently launched services to various destinations. The airline intends to use the no-frills approach used by Ryan Air in Europe and South West Airlines in the United States.
What is Bonza Airlines?
Bonza Airlines is Australia’s startup low cost airline founded by former Virgin Blue boss Jim Jordan, who will serve as the airline’s current CEO. The airline started operations in the second quarter of 2022.
The founders of this airline intend to serve small cities and towns that are currently underserved by the legacy carriers such as the national carrier, Qantas Airlines. Whereas the latter serves the big cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Bonza Airlines intends to serve small cities such as Cairns, Mackay and many others.
The airline intends to commence operations with 5 Boeing 737-Max aircraft, but intends to purchase more planes in the future. The jets will be configured with an all-economy class configuration.
Destinations Served
The low-cost start-up airline will initially serve 25 routes across 16 destinations, with 20 of these operating from two bases at Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast airports.
To start, there will be 12 routes originating from the Sunshine Coast to the following destinations: Albury, Avalon, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Mackay, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Townsville and Whitsunday Coast.
“From our two bases on the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, we will give Aussies more options at ultra-low fares to explore their own backyard. With destinations ranging from Albury to the Whitsundays, travellers will now be able to fly, instead of impossibly long road trips as well as fly direct without a stopover in a major city.
“Aussies can look forward to enjoying more time at their destination and spending less of their hard earned cash getting there in the first place,” the airline said.
Specifically, below is a summary of routes in which the new low cost airline will service:
From Sunshine Coast to:
- Albury – 2 flights per week
- Avalon – 3 flights per week
- Cairns – 5 flights a week
- Coffs Harbour – 2 flights a week
- Mackay – 3 flights per week
- Melbourne – 4 flights per week
- Mildura – 2 flights per week
- Newcastle – 4 flights per week
- Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
- Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
- Townsville – 4 flights per week
- Whitsunday Coast – 3 flights per week
From Melbourne to:
- Bundaberg – 2 flights per week
- Gladstone – 2 flights per week
- Mackay – 2 flights per week
- Mildura – 3 flights per week
- Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
- Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
- Toowoomba Wellcamp – 4 flights per week
From Whitsunday Coast to:
- Newcastle – 2 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week
- Toowoomba Wellcamp – 2 flights per week
From Rockhampton to:
- Cairns – 2 flights per week
- Melbourne – 3 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week
- Townsville – 3 flights per week
From Mackay to:
- Cairns – 2 flights per week
- Melbourne – 2 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week
From Cairns to:
- Mackay – 2 flights per week
- Rockhampton – 2 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 5 flights per week
From Toowoomba Wellcamp to:
- Melbourne – 4 flights per week
- Townsville – 2 flights per week
- Whitsunday Coast – 2 flights per week
From Townsville to:
- Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
- Toowoomba Wellcamp – 2 flights per week
From Newcastle to:
- Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
- Whitsunday Coast – 2 flights per week
From Port Macquarie to:
- Melbourne – 2 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 2 flights per week
From Gladstone to:
- Melbourne
From Bundaberg to:
- Melbourne
From Coffs Harbour to:
- Sunshine Coast
From Albury to:
- Sunshine Coast
From Mildura to:
- Melbourne – 3 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 2 flights per week
From Avalon to:
- Sunshine Coast.
