Bonza Celebrates Inaugural Revenue Passenger Flight From Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast

Bonza celebrated their inaugural revenue passenger flight on Tuesday with service from their Sunshine Coast base to the Whitsunday Coast. This is Bonza’s first of 27 routes to 17 destinations which went on sale last week with fares from $49 to $79.

Bonza 'Legends' Celebrate the Launch of Inaugural Service on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - Courtesy Bonza

On Tuesday (January 31, 2023), Bonza announced the launch of their first-ever revenue passenger flight, with service from their Sunshine Coast home base to the Whitsunday Coast. The historic flight is a game-changer for travelers from both markets, as a 12-hour drive can now be avoided with a direct flight. This is the first of 27 routes to 17 destinations that went on sale last week which will gradually be rolled out. In the first couple of days since tickets went on sale, customers have already booked over 10,000 seats on the FlyBonza app.

Bonza’s onboard experience includes an all-Aussie menu with items ordered via the FlyBonza app, which are delivered directly to the customers’ seats. Local menu partners were also invited onboard today’s inaugural flight, and food & beverage suppliers will join future Bonza Inaugural flights closest to home.

In Tuesday’s announcment, Bonza’s CEO, Tim Jordan, said,

“Our team of legends couldn’t be more excited to begin connecting Aussies for holidays and time with loved ones. What better place to start than arguably two of the country’s favourite holiday destinations. Whether you are snorkelling the Whitsunday Islands or grabbing a cold one in the craft beer capital of Australia - the Sunshine Coast - we are humbled to take you there. Today’s milestone flight comes at a time where demand is high for Aussies to explore their own backyard. What our first customers will experience onboard is a fresh approach to flying where we keep the bar high on quality, and our costs low.”

Also commenting on Bonza’s inaugural flight, Sunshine Coast Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Brodie, said,

“As the home base for Bonza this is a momentous day for the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s newest low cost airline takes to the skies on their inaugural flight heading to the Whitsundays, making this and other incredible destinations so much more accessible for everyday Australians. Bonza’s commencement of services signals a new era for our airport and wider region and over the next 12 months we will see an additional 772,000 seats into the region, which will generate more than $86 million in visitor expenditure. Our partnership with Bonza is just the beginning as we look forward to a bright future and bringing even more destinations to our airport that will grow employment and tourism and unlock new market opportunities for business to explore.”

Bonza is Australia’s new, and only independent low-cost carrier (LCC), enabling Australians to explore more of their own backyard at low prices. The airline currently operates a fleet of five brand new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, which will grow to eight by the end of the first year of operations. Bonza’s initial route map includes 27 routes to 17 destinations. Over 90 percent of Bonza routes are not served by any airline, and 96 percent are not served by a low-cost carrier. The lowest fares are now available for booking on the FlyBonza App.

Source: Bonza