Today Australia’s newest and independent low-fare airline, Bonza, completed its rollout to 17 destinations, with just one more route to be opened to complete the initial network.
In a little over three months Bonza has launched 26 routes to 17 destinations using Australia’s only fleet of brand new, latest generation Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. In some cases the 737 MAX was the first jet to land at a regional airport, and parts of Australia are now within easy and very affordable reach where no such connections had ever existed.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying
Over the last two days, Bonza has launched flights from its second base at Melbourne International Airport to two of Queensland’s most pristine tourist areas, Bundaberg and Gladstone. Today’s flight was to Gladstone Airport (GLT), which is on the coast around 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Brisbane and sits at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
A significant milestone in Bonza’s evolution
As has been the case with almost every launch, CEO Tim Jordan was on hand to greet the 150+ passengers on the flight from Melbourne, along with a crowd of locals lined up along the airport fence to get their first look at Sheila, one of Bonza’s four 737 MAX 8s.
Photo: Bonza
He said that it was a very big day for Bonza as it was rounding out the first phase of destinations, although it does have one more route to add in a couple of weeks which is Melbourne-Mackay. He said:
“It’s really significant because we are completing our first phase of rollouts for destinations, so it’s massive for Team Bonza and massive for our two bases of Sunshine Coast and Melbourne Tullamarine, and very importantly all of those regional communities like Gladstone who now have access to low fares.
“We are all about giving everybody, no matter where you live, the same opportunities to jump on an aircraft to reconnect with friends and family or go exploring in this wonderful big backyard, so we’re about the many and that’s what today is all about here in Gladstone.”
As we are getting toward the end of these launches, it is also worth pointing out that the cakes have continued, with this one display at Gladstone today. The big mystery is where they all go after the Bonza plane has departed.
Photo: Bonza
A Bonza Day in Bundy
Yesterday was the launch of flights from Melbourne International to Bundaberg Airport (BDB), another coastal town on the southern fringe of the Great Barrier Reef. Bonza flight AB1003, also operated by Sheila, registration VH-UJK, left Melbourne at 09:58 and after a 2:18 hour trip arrived in Bundaberg at 12:16, with Simple Flying sitting on the almost 100% full 737 MAX 8.
Bundaberg is a city situated nearby to the Coral Sea and is one of Australia’s most productive agricultural and sugar cane regions, as well as home to the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery. Bundaberg Rum has been made on the site since 1888 using local sugar cane and is a very popular spot for visitors, who can even blend their own rum or buy exclusive blends from the distillery. For non-alcoholic drinkers there is also a vast range of Bundaberg flavors available to try and buy
Photo: Bonza
Jordan said Bonza is seeing strong demand for the route in both directions, particularly now the colder Victorian winter weather is fueling the need for some northern sun. He also said bookings from Bundaberg were in high demand as locals grab the opportunity to hop on a jet and spend some time in Melbourne, be it for the food, sporting events, theatres and galleries.
A new beer joins the 737 inflight delights
Melbourne is also the home of the Melbourne Victory football (soccer) team, another member of the 777 Partners group, and team captain Josh Brillante, who hails from Bundaberg, was also on the inaugural flight.
As well as launching the route, the flight also launched a new beer, Victory Draught, which Melbourne brewers, The Local Brewing Co., produced. The Victory Draught was created in partnership with Melbourne Victory, which is sponsored by Bonza, and is available on flights starting yesterday.
Photo: Bonza
These routes will operate twice weekly, with Melbourne – Bundaberg on Wednesday and Sunday, while the Melbourne to Gladstone service will operate on Monday and Thursday.
Both of these flights cover around 1,600 kilometers (1000 miles) and take close to 2:30 hours, and before Bonzas arrival involved a connection in Brisbane or Sydney, adding hours and many dollars to the trip.
They are both now nonstop flights with one-way fares starting from AU$89 ($59), which is a fraction of what else is on offer and a fine example of how Bonza is reshaping regional travel in Australia.
Have you flown with Bonza yet? Let us know in the comments.