The wait is over, Australia's new budget airline Bonza is taking to the skies, and the independent carrier promises to service new routes at affordable prices.
The Queensland-based airline's first flight takes off on Tuesday, January 31, with passengers flying from the Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast.
Bonza's initial flights include 27 routes to 17 destinations. The airline says, 93 per cent of routes are not currently served by any airline, and 96 per cent are not served by a low-cost carrier.
With a new airline comes a sale, with Bonza offering flights as low as $49 through its FlyBonza app.
Bonza's launch sale
From the Sunshine Coast:
- Albury: Fares starting from $69 per person one way, two flights per week
- Avalon: Fares starting from $79 per person one way, three flights per week
- Cairns: Fares starting from $79 per person one way, five flights per week
- Coffs Harbour: Fares starting from $49 per person one way, two flights per week
- Mackay: Fares starting from $59 per person one way, three flights per week
- Mildura: Fares starting from $79 per person one way, two flights per week
- Newcastle: Fares starting from $59 per person one way, four flights per week
- Port Macquarie: Fares starting from $49 per person one way, two flights per week
- Rockhampton: Fares starting from $49 per person one way, three flights per week
- Townsville: Fares starting from $69 per person one way, four flights per week
- Whitsunday Coast: Fares starting from $59 per person one way, three flights per week
In addition:
- Cairns to/from Rockhampton: Fares starting from $59 per person one way, two flights per week
- Cairns to/from Mackay: Fares starting from $49 per person one way, two flights per week
- Newcastle to/from Whitsunday Coast: Fares starting from $79 per person one way, two flights per week
- Rockhampton to/from Townsville: Fares starting from $49 per person one way, three flights per week
In the future, Bonza will offer flights between Albury, Avalon, Bundaberg, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba Wellcamp, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.
"Travellers are advised to book direct on the Fly Bonza app to get the lowest fares and to score a seat on the airline's first flights," the airline said.
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What's to eat on board?
From craft beer to snags and banana bread waffles, Bonza offers an order-on-demand menu.
The airline boasts to sourcing its entire menu from small to medium business in Australia, such as Ballistic Beer Co, Spinifex Brewing Company, Heaps Normal (non-alcoholic Quiet XPA), Mildura Chocolate Company and Aussie Biscuits - a social enterprise who employ people with disabilities in Forbes, regional NSW.
In another break with tradition, onboard catering trolleys have been ditched, with passengers asked to order food and drinks through the airline's app.
"They will be welcome to make multiple orders during a flight, meaning the people in the last row no longer have to wait for everyone else to be served and risk missing out on a meal preference," the airline said.
Nadine Morton
Breaking news journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Email: nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Breaking news journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Email: nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
