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Budget airlines Bonza is creating package deals to help travellers and small business owners

Low-cost carrier Bonza wants to boost tourism in the Territory and help holiday planners “get everything they need in one place”. Read how they’re doing it.

Bonza Holidays launches, Airlie Beach. Picture: Cameron Laird
Bonza Holidays launches, Airlie Beach. Picture: Cameron Laird

Australia’s youngest budget airline Bonza has just announced new measures to boost tourism in the Top End.

From November the low-cost carrier will begin flights to the Northern Territory, but chief commercial officer Carly Povey wants to offer travellers more than just the journey there.

Bonza is hoping to partner with as many small, family-run businesses in the Territory as possible to be able to offer tourists more diverse and better-priced accommodation selections.

“The first step is giving people access (to the region) with a price and a product that suits their needs,” Ms Povey said.

“We’re a one-stop shop - we’re working in partnership with the airports, with NT Tourism.”

Travellers can book tailored, packaged holidays via the Fly Bonza app, which now include flights plus accommodation with optional travel insurance.

It is Bonza’s aim to make the process of booking a holiday to the Territory as easy and seamless as possible.

Flights include a 23kg checked bag, 8kg hand luggage and seat selection and the airlines offers customers a price match in case they find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere within 24 hours of booking.

First-time travellers to regional destinations want to be shown where to go and what to do, Bonza Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey says. Picture: Cameron Laird
First-time travellers to regional destinations want to be shown where to go and what to do, Bonza Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey says. Picture: Cameron Laird

“Some of these destinations just haven’t been opened before, people will need education and they’ll appreciate how to make the most of their holiday,” she said.

“(We want to) showcase the best of what the destinations have to offer.

“We want to help first-time tourists understand what there is to see and do.

“Next year we’ll start to add things like attractions, tickets to events, car hires etc.”

Affordable, all-inclusive holiday deals will make regional tourism easier for Australians to access. Picture: Cameron Laird
Affordable, all-inclusive holiday deals will make regional tourism easier for Australians to access. Picture: Cameron Laird

Bonza’s template of boosting the local economy through partnerships has already helped Australian food producers get their products onto the national market.

“We have 41 local Australian producers that we feature on our menu, none of them have ever been sold on-board before,” Ms Povey said.

“Most of them were small volume and sold only in a handful of states.”

Ms Povey wants this model to apply to local accommodation owners, creating a win-win situation for local businesses as well as consumers wanting a more affordable option.

“Any accommodation providers in the Territory that want to get involved, email us - the team is ready and waiting.

“We’re really keen to grow the offering that we have and we’d love to hear from them.”

Originally published as Budget airlines Bonza is creating package deals to help travellers and small business owners

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/budget-airlines-bonza-is-creating-package-deals-to-help-travellers-and-small-business-owners/news-story/38ae62912026238656daa3a1fafeb705