Alice Springs mayor’s colourful welcome for new discount airline

Passengers on board Bonza’s first Melbourne to Alice Springs flight got more than they bargained for at departure. See what was on show.

Move over Uluru and Kings Canyon, Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson has given travellers a holiday moment they will never forget.

Wearing only a pair of purple budgie smugglers and an anticipatory grin, the mayor was at the Alice Springs to welcome budget airline Bonza on its first flight to the town.

About 150 passengers arrived in Alice Springs from Melbourne on the inaugural Bonza flight into the Red Centre.

About the same number took the return flight out of town.

The mayor said the Bonza-branded purple budgies reflected his excitement at the new airline coming to town.

Unforgettable: Alice Springs Mayor Matt Patterson at Bonza’s arrival.

“Getting Bonza flying from Alice Springs is a game changer for our town, it really helps improve the liveability for residents,” Mr Paterson said.

“I just wanted to show the town is fully behind them. I’m not sure it’s a photo they will want to use in their marketing campaigns going forward, but it was a fun way to welcome them to our community.”

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford echoed the sentiment.

“This is an early Christmas gift for our region and for our tourism industry,” Mr Rochford said.

“We’re over the moon by both Bonza and Airnorth announcements, we’ve been long advocating for more flights into Alice Springs to increase competition and opportunities.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford said it would be a gamechanger.

“Bonza arriving and Airnorth next year is going to see plenty of new opportunities for our region.

“This goes back to a lot of advocacy earlier in the year, Bonza are a disrupter in the market and I think from what I’ve heard locally the community is going to embrace them.

“Airnorth is great on multiple fronts, it’s great for the liveability of our town and resources sector, but also puts us just one stop away from London, Paris and Rome connecting to Qantas’ direct services.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Patterson and Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan.

Airport Development Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Edmondstone said this was an exciting milestone for Alice Springs with Central Australians now provided with more choice and connectivity to the east coast.

Tourism Minister Joel Bowden, who was raised in Alice Springs, said Bonza was an important addition to the town.

“Growing up in Alice I know how important connectivity and affordability is for those wanting to see loved ones,” he said.

Bonza’s first flight to Darwin from the Sunshine Coast last month was marred by the announcement that a second route from the Gold Coast had been delayed until January 2.

New wave of travel options to bring Territory tourism boom

Alice Springs is set for a tourism surge with two airlines expanding their network to include the Central Australian city.

Australia’s newest budget airline, Bonza, landed in the Red Centre for the first time on Tuesday providing Territorians with more choice on their next trip to Melbourne.

Bonza will offer fares from $99 direct to and from Alice Springs to Victoria.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said they were focused on connecting unserved and underserved markets.

“Adding the Red Centre to our map means we are taking another giant leap in our mission to make air travel accessible to the many, not the few,” Mr Jordan said.

“Melburnians and Territorians can discover all the contrasting wonders both cities have to offer as well as significantly boosting their respective tourism economies.”

Bonza made its inaugural flight to Alice Springs on Tuesday. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Airnorth are joining in on the action to announcing their first ever route from Alice Springs to Perth set to start on March 25.

The new route will operate three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with tickets now online.

It is the first time since June 2022 that Alice Springs and Perth will be connected with a non-stop air service, since the Qantas route came to a close.

The announcements are a direct result of the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme, designed to improve aviation and connectivity to the NT.

Airnorth’s competitive prices to Perth opens up the rest of the world, with more than 1.3m international travellers since July.

Airnorth has announced extra flights including a link between Alice Springs and Perth. Picture: Supplied

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said bringing accessible and affordable air services was a key priority for the government.

“Residents of Alice Springs now have more affordable flight options,” she said.

“We’re working closely with airlines and airports to ensure Territorians are getting a fair deal, and today we’re going further.

“The best way to make sure airlines do the right thing by Territorians is to increase competition in the Territory.”

Airport Development Group chief executive Tony Edmondstone said they were happy to secure more services to Alice Springs from the rest of the country.

“We are pleased to welcome Airnorth to the Red Centre as it grows its services across the Territory and the west,” Mr Edmondstone said.

“Airport Development Group has a long-term vision for the Territory tourism industry and this is another significant step forward in pushing Central Australia forward.

“We are very excited and confident about the future of the Territory and these new services will help to create positive flow on effects for the whole economy.”