First Bonza flight lands at Rockhampton Airport from Townsville

‘Get off the Bruce and onto Bonza’: First flight a success with more routes and destinations planned.

The first customers coming off the Bonza flight at Rockhampton Airport.

It was a Bonza day in Rockhampton as the first purple plane landed at the Beef Capital’s airport, en route from Townsville.

A crowd gathered on the Rockhampton Airport tarmac on Friday morning (February 24) as Bonza aircraft “Bazza” touched down before a stream of excited and bubbly customers came out of the doors and made their way down the stairs, cheering and waving - despite a slight delay out of Townsville.

The Bonza plane coming in it's maiden landing at Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

Rockhampton Regional Council mayor Tony Williams said it a “historic moment”.

“We are so thrilled to finally welcome Bonza to sunny CQ, and to be able to directly connect more travellers to the Rockhampton region is a massive win,” Mr Williams said.

“Residents and visitors have been calling out for more flight options. We are very excited to now make it possible for people to travel on a budget to previously un-serviced routes.

“This partnership is going to benefit many sectors of our community.

“We are looking forward to not only welcoming friends and relatives to the region but showcasing our beautiful community as one of the most liveable regions in Australia.”

Councillor Neil Fisher, Mayor Tony Williams, RRC CEO Evan Pardon and Advance Rockhampton executive manager Greg Bowden.

Councillor and Airport chairman Neil Fisher, wearing a purple shirt for the occasion, had a wide grin.

“I’m having a great Bonza day,” he said.

Flight bookings opened this week for direct Rockhampton to Melbourne flights.

The first flight will be on April 11, with three flights a week, priced from $89 per person one way.

“We always knew that Rockhampton Airport was a great location,” Mr Fisher said.

“To see those poor people who live in Melbourne that have those cold, wet, miserable winters, they can come up to Rockhampton and have a break.”

Inside the Bonza plane.

Bonza’s direct flights out of Rockhampton also include Sunshine Coast with three flights per week from $49 per person, Cairns with two flights per week from $59 per person and the Townsville flight will be available three times per week, from $49.

“What we are putting in place today is the first step, the service to Townsville,” Bonza CEO Tim Jordan said.

“This will be followed by services to Cairns and the Sunshine Coast, and the service to Melbourne.

“For $49 why would you drive on the Bruce (highway).

“Get off the Bruce and onto Bonza.

“This is what Bonza is about, seeing friends and family more frequently, exploring new places that you’ve thought about going but haven’t had the opportunity to get to before.

“We have put regional centres like Rockhampton front and centre at everything we are doing at Bonza.”

Bonza has already sold “thousands of seats” in and out of Rockhampton, with the public showing it is keen for more.

“That’s just the beginning, we’d love to add more routes in the future, more destinations, more flights,” Mr Jordan said.

"Local legend" family Jason, Tyler, Rebecca and Jade Bennett.

Among the crowd was 10-year-old Jade Bennett who won the airline’s Local Legends competition for her video entry of the Rockhampton region, featuring tourist hotspots like the Capricorn Caves, Cooberrie Park and Five Rocks.

“We’ve only been in Rockhampton for four years so when we go out we do all the touristy things,” Mum Rebecca said.

“We put the video in for a bit of fun.”

The family won return flights to Townsville where they will spend the weekend at Magnetic Island and a goodie basket full of Bonza’s inflight food and drinks.