Toowoomba flights to Melbourne, Townsville, Whitsundays on new low-cost carrier Bonza to be available by end of week

Australia’s newest low-cost airline has revealed how much tickets will cost to fly from Wellcamp Airport to three key destinations.

Cheap flights in and out of Toowoomba are now on sale as part of new low-cost carrier Bonza’s second rollout of destinations.

Flights from Melbourne to and from Toowoomba will cost $79 one way.

A trip from Toowoomba to Townsville will cost $69, and a trip to the Whitsundays is $59.

The flights will begin from Toowoomba on April 17.

It comes just weeks after Bonza started running flights in and out of the Sunshine Coast, with its Melbourne-based planes to reach the company’s second rollout of 11 locations.

Speculation started in December 2021 that Toowoomba would be one of the 27 routes included, with this fact confirmed by Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport a year ago.

Locals will be able to fly to and from Melbourne, Townsville and the Whitsundays based on the promised schedule, which will feature 27 routes in total.

Bonza on Tuesday touched down in Melbourne for the first time from the Sunshine Coast, with CEO Tim Jordan calling it a “significant milestone”.

This was followed by its first flight to Townsville the next day.

Bonza’s proposal has divided the aviation industry, with some experts calling it brave and potentially disruptive to the current domestic market dominated by Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar (owned by Qantas).

“Bonza have estimated their tickets at $50 per flying hour – they will be operating the newest, most fuel efficient domestic fleet in Australia,” Toowoomba aviation consultant and former general manager of Wellcamp Airport Sara Hales said.

“The model is unlike any tried in Australia before now and draws debate from across the aviation industry as to its sustainability.

“I’m an optimist. I’d like to think they’ve figured out how to make it work.”

However, other consultants have disputed whether the company can drive up enough demand in untested regional areas like Toowoomba, Coffs Harbour, the Whitsundays or Tamworth.

“I think it’s going to struggle – it’s admirable, it’s great they’re taking an interest in regional tourism,” former Qantas chief economist Dr Tony Webber told The Chronicle last month.

“Some routes will work, but the majority won’t have the demand for what they’re offering.

“If the routes they were picking were successful, you would’ve thought the bigger airlines would’ve scrutinised them.”

Local travel agents have expressed excitement at the move, arguing it could shake up the tourism sector following a difficult period thanks to Covid-19.