Bonza Airline looking at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport inquiry as part of 2022 launch

With borders slowly reopening across the country and Toowoomba residents eager to travel, a new budget airline is eyeing the region for potential routes in 2022.

Low -cost domestic airfares could be coming to Toowoomba for the first time, after start-up airline Bonza revealed it was eyeing Wellcamp Airport as one of its regional destinations.

The new budget airline, which is hoping to launch planes into the air before the end of the 2021-21 financial year, confirmed it was in negotiations with Wellcamp Airport about securing routes.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan, who was previously an executive at Virgin Blue and Cebu Pacific, said discussions had been encouraging so far.

“We have been having ongoing and positive conversations with the Wellcamp team, and they’re still ongoing, but they’re very positive in terms of a willingness to deliver more travel choice and low-cost options to Toowoomba and the region,” he said.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan.

“We would expect early in the new year, making announcements for our original route network.

“We are here for all of Australia and we are looking to bring low fares to all major regional centres, subject to appropriate airport arrangements.”

Bonza, which is backed by US private investment firm 777 Partners, launched last week and has reportedly received more than 4000 expressions of interest from potential staff, as well as inquiries from about 40 airports.

Mr Jordan said it hoped to reach previously untapped markets across Australia with its small fleet of Boeing 737 planes.

New budget airline Bonza has revealed its branding as it inches closer to takeoff in Australia.

“We look at the region and there is a significant catchment of population and we see it as a fantastic opportunity for people to travel more,” he said.

“It’s no good doing the same as other carriers, we must stimulate new market.

“We think timing is very good, not just with considerable pent-up demand to travel, but we’ve secured new aircraft at very low prices and we’ve been able to harness some amazing aviation professionals.

“The biggest element is the indirect roles we’ll support by increased tourism and economic activity.”

Wagner Corporation’s John Wagner, whose company owns the airport, said he would love to see low-cost domestic travel to and from Toowoomba.

“All we’ve done (so far) is put an expressions of interest submission to Bonza and they’re going through the submissions,” he said.

“Absolutely we’d love it, particularly for the regional ports.”

Originally published as Bonza Airline looking at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport inquiry as part of 2022 launch