Low-cost carrier Bonza set to begin flights from Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport

With Australia’s newest low-cost airline set to begin flights from Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport in the coming months, the Garden City’s business community are excited for a Bonza boost to the economy.

Tickets for flights on Australia’s newest low-cost airline are now on sale for flights in and out of Toowoomba, with the business community excited to reap the benefits of great connectivity between the Garden City and the rest of the country.

As part of Bonza’s second rollout of destinations announced this week, the carrier will take off from Wellcamp Airport from April 17, with flights from Melbourne to and from Toowoomba to cost $79.

The airline is also offering flights to Townsville and the Whitsundays.

Once flights begin from Toowoomba in April, it’s expected that some 286 extra flights per week will be touching down and taking off from Wellcamp on those three routes alone.

With the announcement following the airline’s first flights from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne, excitement is building in Toowoomba for Bonza’s arrival.

Bonza's first 737 MAX in Australia touches down at Sunshine Coast airport on Monday morning. Picture Lachie Millard

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl said businesses across the Garden City were excited to see another opportunity for travellers to come to and from the region.

“It will add another level of connectivity between the Toowoomba region and the rest of Australia,” he said.

“It adds competition to other airlines, hopefully pushing the cost of travel down, and will provide more options to get people in and spend money locally as well as allow our businesses to get their products out.”

Bonza's first 737 MAX in Australia touches down at Sunshine Coast airport on Monday morning. Picture Lachie Millard

Mr Rohl said for Toowoomba businesses, the arrival of Bonza would allow greater flexibility for travel without having to rely on driving more than an hour to Brisbane for the Gold Coast to catch a flight.

“The ability to go to meetings interstate from their doorstep creates another competitive advantage for our business community, compared to other parts of the state,” he said.

“East to Ipswich and south to the border we will become a travel hub.

“The greater accessibility to flights in and out of Toowoomba should have a two pronged impact. We’re hoping it will create the ability to bring more people here from other states and also bring more people here to live because of the easy access we will have to other parts of the nation.”

Southern Queensland Country CEO Peter Homan. Picture: Kevin Farmer

From a tourism standpoint, Southern Queensland Country Tourism CEO Peter Homan said Bonza was primarily focus on the leisure market, which provides great opportunities for tourism operators.

“Previous airlines have not been looking to cater to leisure tourists but Bonza is geared up for that, and hopefully they’ll bring lots of happy people to the area,” he said.

“We expect our tourism operates to be able to work really closely with them to drive more visitors.

“Wellcamp Airport has a model that was based on operating with low-cost carriers, that’s what it was originally built on.

“It also offers opportunities to open up the international market. Melbourne is one of the top destinations for international arrivals, and to have direct flights from Melbourne to Toowoomba is a great opportunity for us.”

Carly Povey, Chief Commercial Officer at Bonza. Picture: Supplied

On Thursday, Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey said the airline’s route map had grown to 17 destinations and 27 routes.

“Today is a huge day for Aussie travellers as we deliver on our promise to make air travel accessible to the many, not the few,” she said.

“Today millions more Aussies have the chance to book a low cost flight to see a loved one or explore their own backyard. As a proud Melbournite, I’m very excited to have the opportunity to fly directly to regional destinations to catch some winter sun in Queensland or explore the wine region of Mildura.”