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.

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.

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.

Pictured: 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.

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