Budget Australian airline Bonza successfully launched its first flight ever which departed Sunshine Coast this morning and landed on the Whitsunday Coast just under two hours later.
Chief executive Tim Jordan appeared on Today this morning to celebrate the monumental occasion. He told the hosts that the airline’s aim is to focus on flying Australians to domestic areas that are difficult to reach, for a reasonable price.
“It’s about new market stimulation and giving many places, many people the opportunity to travel to see friends and family … We are about travel for the many, not the few,” he said.
He added, “We are about visiting friends and relatives and that’s our focus.”
The hub for the low cost carrier is based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and currently has flights on offer within the state from the hub to domestic locations Cairns, Townsville, the Whitsunday coast, Mackay and Rockhampton. In NSW flights are currently on sale to Albury, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Port Macquarie and in Victoria, passengers can secure seats to Avalon and Mildura from the Sunshine Coast. Flights are on sale for as little as $49 one way.
Jordan said that he’d like to open up flights in and out of Sydney, but the cost is currently too high.
“We’re quite enthusiastic about Sydney, but it has to be at the right pricing,” he said.
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Bonza is concentrating on being a digital first airline, which means flights will only be able to be booked on the app, with the exception of registered local travel agents. The company’s CEO has encouraged potential customers to download the Fly Bonza app and sign up to be the first to know when its initial phase of flights will be up for grabs.
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