Australia’s newest airline is now selling tickets, with Bonza’s first commercial flight set to take place as early as next Tuesday from its Sunshine Coast base to Whitsunday Coast.
Flights start from just $49 one-way, or $65.20 with standard seat selection and a 15kg checked bag. Routes with $49 launch fares available include Sunshine Coast-Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast-Port Macquarie, Rockhampton-Townsville and Cairns-Mackay.
Flights can only be booked on the Fly Bonza smartphone app or via travel agents. The airline advises passengers to book direct using the app to get the best price.
If you already downloaded the Fly Bonza app previously, you’ll need to update your app in order to book flights.
Bonza’s launch route network
Last year, Bonza announced that it planned to initially operate 25 routes (which has since grown to 27) – mainly from its bases at Sunshine Coast Airport and Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. So far, flights have been released for sale on the 15 of those routes:
Most of these routes will be operated 2-4 days per week, with Bonza progressively launching services over the coming months. None of these routes currently have existing non-stop service from another airline.
Flights from Bonza’s Melbourne base will go on sale in a few weeks.
“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),” Bonza Chief Commercial Officer Carly 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,” Povey added.
Bonza does not have a frequent flyer program.
Bonza’s journey so far
Since announcing its plans to enter the Australian market in October 2021, Bonza has been working behind the scenes to acquire the necessary certifications, aircraft, staff and technology needed to launch an airline.
Bonza CEO Tim Jordan joined Matt on the AFF on Air podcast shortly after announcing the airline’s plans to the world.
Bonza’s crew will wear sneakers and sell food & drinks on board from a menu sourced entirely from Australian businesses.
The airline has already taken delivery of three Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Keeping in line with Bonza’s shameless Aussie branding, the jets have been named Shazza, Bazza and Sheila.
Earlier this month, the airline finally received its Air Operator Certificate from Australia’s aviation safety regulator. With that very important piece of bureaucracy out of the way, tickets can now go on sale and the low-cost airline is almost ready for take-off!
Whatever you may think of the airline and its prospects for long-term success, it certainly is doing things differently. Its branding is distinctive and the airline’s PR team has been doing a great job of getting the word out there, including with stunts like Bonza-branded budgie smugglers. The regional communities it will be serving will likely welcome the unique service that Bonza brings.
P.S. See our Bonza review here!
