Category Archives: Bonza Aviation

Bonza opens a second base at Melbourne Tullamarine

Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N5515X (VH-UJT) (msn 62533) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 958109.

Bonza on March 30 launched operations from its second base at Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) with the first flight to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY).

Bonza will base two Boeing 737-8s at MEL to operate nine routes.

Then airline has made this announcement:

  • Bonza’s second base at Melbourne Tullamarine launches today with first flight to the Sunshine Coast
  • The base is home to multiple Bonza legends with more roles being recruited
  • Two aircraft will operate from Melbourne taking customers to 11 destinations on 12 routes
  • Melburnians can now take advantage of nine Bonza routes – seven of which are not being offered by any other airline
  • The launch comes as Bonza has sold over 100,000 seats via the Fly Bonza app

Travel-hungry Victorians have packed onto the first ever Bonza flight from the Victorian capital to the Sunshine Coast marking the launch of the airline’s Melbourne (Tullamarine) base just in time for Easter and school holidays.

“Our team of legends have been working hard to set up and launch our second base at Melbourne Tullamarine. The Victorian capital is our second home and based here are a number of cabin crew, pilots and first officers who get to come home after a day travelling to regional destinations on our route map,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.

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From the Tullamarine base, Bonza will operate two aircraft from their fleet of brand new Boeing 737-MAX who are affectionately named Shazza, Bazza, Sheila and Malc.

Twelve routes from the Melbourne base went on sale last month via the Fly Bonza app to 11 destinations including the low-cost carrier’s home base Sunshine Coast Airport and regional locations like Toowoomba Wellcamp, Tamworth and Bundaberg. Melburnians can now take advantage of nine Bonza routes – seven of which are not being offered by any other airline. Bonza will also launch a much anticipated Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Mildura service from its new base on 8 May, turning a six-seven-hour drive within the same state to little more than an hours flight.

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With Melbourne poised to overtake Sydney to become the largest city in Australia, and regional populations booming, Jordan says there has never been a better time for Bonza to enter the market as an airline for the many, not the few.

Routes from Bonza’s Melbourne (Tullamarine) base:

  • Bundaberg: Fares from $89 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 10 May 2023
  • Gladstone: Fares from $89 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 11 May 2023
  • Mackay: Fares from $89 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 23 May 2023
  • Mildura: Fares from $49 per person one way, 3 flights per week from 8 May 2023
  • Port Macquarie: Fares from $69 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 4 May 2023
  • Rockhampton: Fares from $89 per person one way, 3 flights per week from 11 April 2023
  • Sunshine Coast: Fares from $79 per person one way, 4 flights per week from 30 March 2023
  • Tamworth: Fares from $59 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 2 May 2023
  • Toowoomba Wellcamp: Fares from $79 per person one way, 4 flights per week from 17 April 2023

In addition to:

  • Toowoomba Wellcamp <> Townsville: Fares from $69 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 19 April 2023
  • Toowoomba Wellcamp <> Whitsunday Coast: Fares from $59 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 21 April 2023
  • Tamworth <> Sunshine Coast: Fares from $49 per person one way, 2 flights per week from 6 May 2023

In other news, Bonza has launched its twice weekly service from Newcastle to the Whitsunday Coast on March 30.

The new route is part of Bonza’s ongoing launch with this week seeing the introduction of flights between the Sunshine Coast and Cairns, Newcastle and Melbourne Tullamarine. Yesterday, Bonza launched Cairns to Mackay and on Friday it will introduce a Cairns to Rockhampton service. The ramp up comes as Bonza looks to enjoy its first ever peak holiday period with Easter and school holidays kicking off this week in Queensland.

Whitsunday Lookout_MandatoryCredit_TEQ.jpgPictured: Aerial view of people looking out over the blue waters, from Hill Inlet Lookout, Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

Top Copyright Photo: Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N5515X (VH-UJT) (msn 62533) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 958109.

Bonza aircraft photo gallery:

Bonza aircraft photo gallery

Bonza commences flights on the Sunshine Coast – Townsville route

Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 VH-UIK (msn 43975) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 959306.

Bonza made this announcement:

Sheila has touched down in North Queensland for the first time.

We received a very warm Townsville welcome this morning as the first customer flight from the Sunshine Coast landed. Today marks our first route to launch and on Friday, we’ll fly between Townsville and Rockhampton for the very first time.

Later this week when our Melbourne base goes on sale, the people of Townsville can also book flights directly to Toowoomba Wellcamp.

Top Copyright Photo: Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 VH-UIK (msn 43975) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 959306.

Bonza aircraft photo gallery:

Bonza aircraft photo gallery

Bonza commences operations in Australia, but not to Sydney

Bonza Aviation commenced operations today, on January 31, 2023, after receiving approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on January 12, 2023.

The first route connected the Sunshine Coast to the Whitsunday Coast.

Bonza plans to predominantly serve under-utilized domestic and regional routes within Australia.

Today’s route is the first of 27 to be gradually rolled out to a total of 17 destinations.

The new airline issued this statement:

January 31, 2023

  • Bonza reinforces commitment to be ‘Here for Allstralia’ with community and first customers joining celebrations
  • The inaugural flight comes days after the airline went on sale for the first time with Aussies said to be embracing Bonza’s app first approach

The historic flight is said to be a game changer for both tourism markets as well as friends and family who can ditch the 12 hour drive in place of a direct flight.

“Our team of legends couldn’t be more excited to begin connecting Aussies for holidays and time with loved ones. What better place to start than arguably two of the country’s favourite holiday destinations. Whether you are snorkelling the Whitsunday Islands or grabbing a cold one in the craft beer capital of Australia – the Sunshine Coast – we are humbled to take you there,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.

“Today’s milestone flight comes at a time where demand is high for Aussies to explore their own backyard,” added Jordan.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan

He says he is thrilled to deliver on Bonza’s promise of stimulating new tourism markets by serving underserved regional communities. Jordan also revealed that since going on sale days earlier, Aussies had embraced the opportunity to book a seat on the app with over 10,000 seats sold.

“What our first customers will experience onboard is a fresh approach to flying where we keep the bar high on quality, and our costs low,” he said.

The onboard experience includes an all Aussie menu with items ordered on demand from the Fly Bonza app and delivered directly to customers’ seats. Local menu partners were also invited on today’s flight with food and drink suppliers across the country to join future Bonza inaugurals closest to home.

Sunshine Coast Airport Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Brodie said, “As the home base for Bonza this is a momentous day for the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s newest low cost airline takes to the skies on their inaugural flight heading to the Whitsundays, making this and other incredible destinations so much more accessible for everyday Australians.

“Bonza’s commencement of services signals a new era for our airport and wider region and over the next 12 months we will see an additional 772,000 seats into the region, which will generate more than $86 million in visitor expenditure.”

“Our partnership with Bonza is just the beginning as we look forward to a bright future and bringing even more destinations to our airport that will grow employment and tourism and unlock new market opportunities for business to explore”.

Video:

Top Copyright Photo: Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 VH-UJK (msn 43974) BFI (Nick Dean). Image: 959428.