Virgin flying to Gold Coast for Bonza-like prices

Rocked by the sudden demise of Bonza, there is a Sunshine State-sized silver lining for passengers with a snap sale just announced.

Virgin has nestled into the gap left by Bonza going bust with a heap of deals into the Gold Coast.

A sale announced on Monday only applies to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday flights to/from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra but for dates between June and December.

With no checked baggage included, fares start at $69 from Sydney to the Gold Coast. Melburnians can get to the Goldie for $85, Canberrans $89, and Adelaideans for $109. Those prices apply for flights in both directions, but the sale is only on from Monday until midnight Sunday, May 19.

Travellers wanting a slice of Gold Coast culture can look to Virgin’s sale. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Hampson

Virgin is spruiking the sale as a midweek chance for a getaway from work.

Budget airline Bonza had its biggest footprint in the Sunshine State, and its voluntary administration is a win for Virgin as well as Qantas.

Bonza flew to 10 cities and towns in Queensland, and 10 combined in the Northern Territory, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

Gold Coast was a key hub for Bonza; it offered flights to the Gold Coast for less than $100 from Albury, Melbourne, and Launceston, plus even cheaper deals from regional Queensland cities.

But two weeks ago a former investment partner of the discount airline’s private equity owner repossessed Bonza’s planes.

The Gold Coast was a key hub for Bonza before it went into administration two weeks ago. Picture: Supplied

Passengers are unlikely to get refunds, 300 staff have been stood down and the airline is in voluntary administration.

Bonza owes about $110m to trade creditors, landlords, staff, the Australian Taxation Office and plane lessors.

Qantas’ share price has risen as much as 6 per cent in the two weeks since Bonza went into administration.

Virgin Australia went into voluntary administration a few years ago but was purchased in 2020 for $3.5bn by a US private equity firm.

In October, it was reported the private equity firm could look to relist Virgin Australia on the ASX in 2024, but an initial public offering now looks unlikely.