Bonza to Toowoomba: Travel agents excited by low-cost airfares to Melbourne, Whitsundays and Townsville

Toowoomba tourism operators and travel agents are excited to welcome low-cost airfares to the Garden City for the first time. Here’s where you’ll be able to go, and how often.

UPDATE: The introduction of low-cost air travel directly to Toowoomba could spark a wave of tourism from across the country, according to local travel agents.

Bonza Airlines named Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport as one of its key ports when it launches towards the end of the year, promising to fly from the Garden City to Melbourne, the Whitsundays and Townsville for $50 per hour in the air.

It means a couple could fly to Melbourne for a weekend for about $100 each one way, or $400 return in total.

Globetrotters Travel planner Ben Apsey said the region’s inclusion as a destination would deliver great economic benefits.

“As a travel agent, I’m excited,” he said.

“I reached out to them to see if they’d work with agents and Bonza said they were planning to work with the industry.

“Nothing is concrete yet, but if it’s any indication, Jetstar hasn’t renewed its contract with Traveller’s Choice (which Globetrotters is part of) as their preferred partner.

“That seems to suggest there is something in the works.”

NOW OPEN: Ben Apsey (right) from Globetrotters Travel and Cruise Toowoomba.

Mr Apsey said he supported more competition for low-cost airlines, noting it would help boost the travel industry if done correctly.

“Airnorth has finished up the Melbourne run so (Bonza is) taking it up and it won’t cost you half a liver,” he said.

“The base fair is going to be about $50 an hour, (so) a return trip without bags will cost as much as it used to cost to go one-way previously.

“Domestic travel is based on the three-day weekend, not a full week, so people only pack light with a carry-on bag.

“Wellcamp parking is cheap, the facilities are great and it’s going to Melbourne, Whitsundays and Townsville.”

Mr Apsey also said Toowoomba’s status as a tourism destination would be boosted by the announcement.

EARLIER: The company promising to bring low-cost domestic flights to Toowoomba has revealed when it expects to fly to and from Wellcamp Airport.

Bonza celebrated a key milestone this week when its first branded Boeing 737 MAX touched down at its Queensland headquarters at Sunshine Coast Airport.

The newly-established airline, which has pledged to fly passengers to 17 destinations on 27 routes, announced earlier this year it would operate between Toowoomba on eight weekly flights to Melbourne, the Whitsundays and Townsville.

While no local date has been set for flights, a company spokeswoman company said it hoped to offer tickets before the end of the year.

“We are working towards rolling out flights from as soon as late September with Sunshine Coast based aircraft first, subject to regulatory approval,” she said.

“The Toowoomba routes are using our Melbourne based aircraft which will be rolled out after.”

Flights will cost roughly $50 per hour in the air, suggesting a trip from Toowoomba to Melbourne would cost a little over $100.