Low-cost Sunshine Coast flights to go on sale after Bonza licence granted

The first destinations Sunshine Coast-based budget airline Bonza will be flying to can be revealed after the company was given the green light. See the list.

Bonza Airline lands at Avalon Airport. Picture: Tony Gough

Sunshine Coast-based budget airline Bonza has announced the first locations it will be flying to, after it was given the green light from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Bonza will start with 13 destinations, 10 of which have never been serviced before from the Sunshine Coast.

Flights will be running between Sunshine Coast and Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Proserpine, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Albury, Avalon, Melbourne and Mildura.

A spokeswoman said the company was finalising the sales of flights.

She said Bonza would gradually rollout flights to 17 destinations and 27 routes, of which 93 per cent are not currently served by any other airline and 96 per cent have no low-cost carrier.

Sunshine Coast Airport chief executive Andrew Brodie said flights would be able to go on sale and commence before the end of January.

Mr Brodie said the new airline would boost the Sunshine Coast from the 10th to the second most domestically connected airport in Queensland and bring an additional 772,000 seats into the region in the first year.

“The destinations Bonza is opening up for regional travellers is a game changer for Australians and they are also providing a critical pathway in unlocking new market opportunities for business,” he said.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said the launch was a historic moment for Australian aviation.

Mr Jordan said the timing was right to launch a low-cost airline.

“Demand for domestic travel is high and Aussies deserve for travel to be a basic right for many, not a luxury for the few,” he said.

“This has never been truer with today’s cost of living challenges.”

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said the launch of Bonza was historic.

Flights will initially go on sale from Bonza’s home base of the Sunshine Coast, with flights from its Melbourne base to follow.

The launch of the airline follows a bumper season for the Sunshine Coast Airport, which forecast more than 150,000 visitors through the terminal in December 2022 compared to less than 62,000 in December 2021.

Mr Brodie said with Bonza operating in 2023 they were now forecasting 1.5 million passengers, which is over 80 per cent more than the previous year.

Mr Jordan said those interested in the first round of flights should sign up to the Fly Bonza app, which will be the only way individuals can book tickets.

The app will also be the only way to order food on-board, with no trolleys and cabin crew assigned seat rows to look after during each flight.