When the names of its first three aircraft are Bazza, Shazza and Sheila, you’d be forgiven for not expecting much from Bonza’s all-Aussie onboard menu. The names inevitably conjure up images of soggy meat pies and long-neck VBs.
But modern Australian cuisine has evolved beyond the cliches of old and is celebrated across the globe. The powers that be at Bonza, thank goodness, have heard our collective stomach groans and seem to have hit the mark with its onboard ‘all-Aussie’ menu.
While the old favourites make an appearance (think chocolate freckles, Saxbys soft drinks and snags in bags), the airline has stocked up on modern obsessions.
Ever been stuck talking to a craft beer tragic? Bonza has a beer for that. And it probably comes from Ballistic Beer Co or Spinifex Brewing Company.
And in an Aussie airline first, Bonza will also serve up a personal Dry July favourite from non-alcoholic beer brew company, Heaps Normal.
Vegans will be able to dine on sandwiches, brownies and chips while those on a keto-diet (or those die-hard cheese fans) can bliss out on AmazeBalls Popped Cheese.
All the food and beverage on offer will be produced by Australian small to medium businesses, a move Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey hopes will support local businesses and their suppliers.
“It also means we are helping SMEs get exposure to new markets as the entire menu will be offered on all of our 27 routes,” she said.
No trolley dollies for Bonza
Bonza has abandoned onboard catering trolleys in favour of on-demand direct to seat service.
“We’re banishing the trolley, so for those of you like me who stand 10 minutes in the aisle waiting for the bathroom or hoped that you could get what you chose for it not to be available… we’re launching food and beverage on demand,” Povey said at the Sunshine Coast menu launch.
Customers can not only preorder and pay for their desired items on the Fly Bonza app and have them delivered to their seats, they can also 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 Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is yet to give the green light to Australia’s newest airline, but Bonza CEO Tim Jordan assures the airline is “getting close”.
To register for the airline’s dedicated travel agent portal, head to the website: https://www.flybonza.com/registration/.
