Australia’s newest low-cost carrier Bonza has reached the milestone one-year mark after launching its inaugural flight from the Sunshine Coast to the Whitsunday Coast on 31 January 2023, celebrating with $49 one-way tickets network-wide until 5 February 2024.
Since last year, the LCC has flown more than 750,000 passengers to 21 destinations in Australia on its domestic fleet of six aircraft.
It now operates 38 routes with 84 per cent of those not served by any other airline and 89 per cent not served by another low-cost carrier.
The airline also added two more bases – Melbourne and Gold Coast – alongside its Sunshine Coast hub with a fourth base planned by the end of 2024.
It also calculates it has saved customers more than AUD$125 million and made air travel more accessible, particularly in regional Australia, with that figure expected to double in 2024.
A Bonza first year of flying
CEO Tim Jordan said: “It really is a Bonzaversary to remember. Since our inaugural flight on 31 January 2023, we have expanded to operate 38 routes to 21 destinations from three bases.”
He added that the airline has big plans for 2024 to deliver those additional $250 million in customer savings by expanding its fleet and adding extra routes and a fourth base.
The low-cost airline also voiced its support for travel advisors and expanded its headcount with 300-plus team members now located across the country.
“We have an amazing team of legends who have worked so hard to make Bonza what it is today,” Mr Jordan said.
“We’d also like to thank our customers who have supported us during this year of firsts,” he added, alluding to the teething issues and route cuts throughout its first year of operation.
“Like any new business, we know that we don’t always get things right all of the time but we learn quickly and will go again as our customers have shown us that there certainly is a Bonza-sized opportunity in the Australian aviation market.
“Since our introduction just a year ago we’ve delivered significant savings wherever we operate, demonstrating the positive impact Bonza is having on the Australian domestic aviation market.”
For more info, head to flybonza.com
