The first Bonza plane has landed at Port Macquarie Airport ahead of the airline starting flights in the NSW North Coast city from April 12.
Named Malc, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft touched down just after 4pm on Tuesday, March 21, for training purposes.
Port Macquarie Airport operations coordinator Doug Page said having the plane land with just the crew onboard allowed for staff at the airport to get familiar with the aircraft.
"We have Fire and Rescue here too as well as ground staff going through training," he said.
The airline is set to launch 25 routes not flown by other airlines and will do away with cart service, with food and drink purchases made through the airline's app.
Bonza CEO Tim Jordan said the training which took place on Tuesday afternoon was essential to making sure everything ran smoothly.
"It lets the pilots come in and out of Port Macquarie from a flight operations perspective, but it's also training for the ground handling team to see the aircraft and to familiarise themselves with opening the doors and the holds of the aircraft," he said.
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The aircraft has 180 seats and is powered by twin jets.
"It's considerably larger than existing aircraft that come in and out of Port Macquarie Airport," Mr Jordan said.
"Having an aircraft of this size allows us to drive down the cost of flying so more people can afford to fly."
The first commercial Bonza flight from Port Macquarie to the Sunshine Coast is scheduled for take-off on April 12.
Bonza will join QantasLink, Rex and Eastern Air Services operating out of the airport.
