A new budget airline Bonza has introduced the 25 flight routes it will serve between 16 regional destinations in the eastern states of Australia.
The domestic carrier will transport passengers between the following locations: Albury, Avalon, Bundaberg, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba Wellcamp, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.
Bonza will launch ticket sales within two weeks while aiming to kick off its first flight in mid-2022 if the airline gets the green light from authorities.
According to the company’s announcement, it will establish a home base in the Sunshine Coast Airport in Queensland, with Melbourne becoming its secondary base.
Tim Jordan, the founder of the venture and former Virgin Blue executive, said that Bonza would not compete with other airlines on capital city routes, such as between Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney; however, it would focus on attracting regional travellers.
He said Bonza’s passengers would have an easier time travelling from region to region without having to transit at capital cities.
“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,” Jordan said in a statement.
“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.”
He also said that 20 out of 25 routes offered by Bonza were untouched by other airlines, and only one of the 16 destinations was served by low-cost carriers.
To service its flight routes, Bonza will commission five 737 MAX commercial aeroplanes, which can carry 138 to 204 people each. The airline also plans to increase its fleet to eight planes by mid-2023.
The head office of Bonza will require a team of around 100 employees, while each 737 MAX will need 50 workers to operate.
A spokesperson from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications told The Epoch Times that the Australian government welcomed the announcement of Bonza and placed high importance on having a robust and competitive airline industry due to its vital role in the economy.
“The Australian government welcomes the recent announcement by incoming domestic airline Bonza that it will fly 25 routes to 16 destinations around Australia, particularly to regional communities,” the spokesperson said.
“The Australian government values a strong, sustainable and competitive aviation industry—and this includes multiple domestic carriers offering competitive prices and supporting additional routes.
“Australia’s aviation industry will continue to play a vital role in our economic recovery, and the Australian government looks forward to seeing more domestic planes return to Australian skies and connecting regional communities to the rest of the nation.”
