Forget the critics – Bonza has plenty of friends in Central Australia

The boss of Central Australian tourism has gone into bat for Bonza. Read what he said.

Fed up with Top End criticism of start-up airline Bonza, a Central Australian tourism boss has weighed in with a spirited defence of the low-cost carrier.

Tourism Central Australia boss Danial Rochford said the new independently owned airline had delivered everything and more to a destination that for years had been crying out for greater airline competition.

Bonza runs two flights a week from Melbourne to Alice Springs.

Mr Rochford pointed to positive comments on social media from customers delighted to have the additional services provided by Bonza and said the airline would deliver a significant boost to tourism numbers in the town.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford

“Bonza has now been running for six weeks and all services have operated and have been positively received from the Alice Springs community,” Mr Rochford said.

“The community has been long calling for competition in and out of the town and Bonza has certainly delivered.

“Not only have these services impacted positively on the liveability of the town, but I have no doubt we will see a positive increase in tourism visitation to Central Australia in 2024 especially around our key events.”

He also applauded the airline for on Saturday offering up 200,000 $49 fares across their network, which included $140 return flights from Melbourne.

“The $49 ticket is less than the cost of a taxi ride from Alice Spring CBD to the airport,” Mr Rochford said.

The airline was embraced by the town from the outset with Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson greeting the new airline in a pair of purple Bonza budgie-smugglers.

Other residents were more subdued in their support, taking to social media to express their enthusiasm for the additional services.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Patterson at Bonza arrival

Amanita Dusan described the service as “life changing” on the Alice Springs Bulletin Board Facebook page.

“So grateful for their service!” she wrote.

“Life changing being able to afford to get out and also to have friends and family visit.”

Kerri Gilbert was also a fan.

“Will definitely keep using them as they are sooo much cheaper. I like the night flights as there is no traffic when arriving or departing Melbourne.”

Waibira Murray praised Bonza staff.

“I was travelling with my grandson who has multiple disabilities. The staff were amazing, in fact the best we have had when travelling with him.”

Bonza announced in September it would introduce 12 new low cost flights a week to the NT, and its Territory journey began on a positive note on November 29 with the first scheduled flight between Sunshine Coast and Darwin going off without a hitch.

But cracks appeared the following day when the airline announced without explanation it had cancelled the Gold Coast service, inconveniencing thousands of passengers who had pre-booked.

The error was compounded when the airline again delayed commencement of the Gold Coast route flights until March.

Hundreds of people are still waiting for a refund from the carrier.

The airline’s first flights to Alice Springs commenced on December 12, with the mayor stealing the show.

A Bonza corporate affairs spokesman confirmed the airline’s Gold Coast to Darwin route would commence on March 19.

Originally published as Forget the critics – Bonza has plenty of friends in Central Australia