Budget carrier Bonza to bring cheaper airfares when they hit the NT
A new airline is expected to touchdown in Darwin tonight, bringing with it cheap fares and new routes. Read what it means.
Northern Territory
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Budget airline Bonza’s first flight into the Northern Territory is expected to land in Darwin on Wednesday night.
The airline’s inaugural Darwin flight is scheduled to leave Sunshine Coast at 7.25pm and to touch down in the Territory capital at 11.15pm.
Bonza agreed to fly services into the Territory after incentives through the NT government’s Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme.
The airline has launched three new Territory routes - Sunshine Coast to Darwin, Gold Coast to Darwin and Melbourne to Alice Springs.
Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said he was celebrating the NT’s first flight departing from the airline’s Sunshine Coast home base.
“(Wednesday) is about offering more choice to Territorians and travellers from the Sunshine Coast and surrounding regions to the Top End,” he said.
“From December 12, we commence flying from Melbourne into Alice Springs.”
Gold Coast routes were expected to take off from Thursday but have been delayed.
Tourism Top End general manager Samantha Bennett said the new airline’s arrival will create more options for residents and visitors to see the Northern Territory.
“There is a high demand for more affordable flight options,” Ms Bennett said.
“More options equals more opportunity for travel.
“Bonza are independent low-cost airline and have a different offering to Virgin and Qantas with new destinations.”
She said delays to flights caused by upgrades to the tarmac at Darwin Airport were frustrating but necessary.
“The airport runway works are mostly impacting capacity and cost of airfares,” she said.
“We are hearing that there is frustration and angst about the delays and cancellations, however the bigger concerns are cost and seat availability.”
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Joel Bowden welcomed the visitors at a “great time” to see what the Territory has to offer.
“The arrival of Bonza is fantastic for the Territory’s tourism and hospitality industry as well as a win for Territorians,” Mr Bowden said.
“We’re thrilled to see Bonza land in the Northern Territory this week.
“These new Bonza routes from the Sunshine Coast to Darwin, Gold Coast to Darwin and Melbourne to Alice Springs will not only boost visitor numbers as we head towards our peak tourism season, but also give Territorians more choice and connectivity.”
The arrival comes as thousands of Bonza passengers were affected when 10 per cent of the airline’s flights were cancelled after a paperwork bungle.
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Originally published as Budget carrier Bonza to bring cheaper airfares when they hit the NT
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