Bonza budget airline announces 11 Gold Coast routes, $49 fares

Queensland’s aviation scene is set for a massive shake-up as a new player brings almost a dozen new routes to the Sunshine State with seats from less than $50.

Budget airline Bonza will launch a new base on the Gold Coast offering flights to almost a dozen destinations across the country in a deal worth an estimated $100m to the state’s tourism industry.

Bonza, which launched six months ago with hubs at Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, will on Tuesday announce a major move on the Gold Coast, establishing a base of operations with flights to 11 domestic destinations, including eight new routes and four that have never existed before.

Bonza’s Gold Coast services will link Albury, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne Avalon, Melbourne Tullamarine, Mildura, Rockhampton, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast with flights to start in November for as low as $49.

Low-cost airline Bonza will begin services between the Gold Coast and 11 domestic destinations from November.

It adds up to 70 new flights linking the Gold Coast each week in a major boost to the state’s tourism industry.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said the airline’s arrival – and subsequent expansion – was a major win for budget travellers.

“For a lot of people, travel has been too hard and too expensive,” he said.

“But by making it more affordable and opening up more routes which haven’t been serviced before, we’re bringing something different to the market.

“These prices (from $49), they’re not sale fares, that is going to be our regular price point.”

Bonza’s first six months have not been without turbulence, with five routes across the country scrapped.

But Mr Jordan said since Bonza’s launch, the number of budget domestic airline routes across the country had jumped from less than 60 to 88, including the new Gold Coast services.

“The low-cost industry has been stagnant for a long time, so this is a phenomenal achievement,” he said.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan. Picture: News Corp Australia

Four of the announced routes have never been serviced before – Bundaberg, Gladstone, Whitsunday Coast and Mildura – with the airline planning to launch more routes linking the Gold Coast in coming months.

Last month, Bonza drew criticism over its Mackay-Cairns service, which is one of five routes by the airline to be discontinued.

Mr Jordan said he hoped there was scope in the future to revisit that route, and also to add a significant number of other routes across the country.

“We’re still the new kid on the block and we’re still learning and we haven’t got everything right, but we’re delighted with how things are going,” he said.

Queensland Airports Limited chief executive Amelia Evans said the new partnership between Gold Coast Airport and Bonza would provide a big boost across the entire region.

Gold Coast Airport chief executive Amelia Evans.

“Not only will Bonza bring more tourists to the Gold Coast and northern NSW region, giving our destination an opportunity to showcase our region, it will also open up connections for our locals to connect with loved ones across regional Australia,” she said.

“Many of these routes are new to our network and they’re also very competitively priced, which is great news for our customers and for visitors to our region.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the news.

“It’s touchdown for Bonza at our city’s world-class airport terminal,” he said.

“Bonza creates more choice for locals as well as visitors heading our way from key regional centres.

“We have worked tirelessly to lure more carriers to the coast and I warmly welcome Bonza to Australia’s tourism capital.”

Magnetic Island off Townsville will soon be just a short flight from the Gold Coast. Picture: Suppled