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Bonza has revealed when the remaining services from its network will begin from its Melbourne base.
The new dates and frequencies, listed in full at the bottom of this article, mean the airline will have completed its route rollout in full by 23 May. All services are now on sale to passengers via its app.
Bonza is the first Australian operator to attempt to fly so-called “point-to-point” leisure services that skip out major cities and allow consumers to fly direct from holiday destination to holiday destination.
The business has said 93 per cent of its final network – 25 out of its 27 routes – are not currently flown by any other airline, while 96 per cent are not served by any other low-cost carrier.
Bonza’s chief commercial officer Carly Povey said, “As a proud Melbournite, I’m very excited to have the opportunity to fly directly to regional destinations to catch some winter sun in Queensland or explore the wine region of Mildura.
“The routes on sale today use our Melbourne-based crew and aircraft, including our fourth plane, Malc, named after a dear legend who recently passed away.”
The first flight from Melbourne Airport – to its other base on the Sunshine Coast – will take off on 30 March.
Bonza’s first-ever service between the Sunshine Coast and Whitsundays began on 31 January, and it will next start flights between Rockhampton and Townsville on Friday.
Bonza was hoping to begin flying last winter but waited far longer than expected to receive its crucial licence to fly from CASA, which came through in early January.
It currently has a fleet of three MAXs to service its early network, but plans to expand that to target eight as it services more destinations.
Its first aircraft, VH-UJT, was named Shazza; its second, VH-UIK, Bazza; and its third, VH-UJK, Sheila.
The airline appears to have made a success of its launch, announcing it had sold 10,000 seats after just three days on sale.
CEO Tim Jordan previously told Australian Aviation he was keen to fly from Sydney but hinted the costs were too high.
“From an availability perspective, Sydney is no different [to Melbourne],” said Jordan
“In the fact that Melbourne saw an opportunity, nine new routes out of Melbourne, seven of them not operated by any other airline, there are similar opportunities in and out of Sydney undoubtedly. However, the issue is we need a cost base which allows us to stimulate the marketplace.
“There is an issue in terms of slots in Sydney and getting access to slots at the right time of day. And that is an issue that is more burdensome in Sydney than in many other locations.
“So those two factors cost the Sydney Airport and the slot environment for Sydney are certainly all key components inputs for us in terms of expansion.”
You can listen to our exclusive podcast interview with CEO Tim Jordan, above, and premium content subscribers can read our exclusive look inside the launch of the airline here.
Route / launch date / flights per week
Melbourne to Bundaberg – 10 May – 2
Melbourne to Gladstone – 11 May – 2
Melbourne to Mackay – 23 May – 2
Melbourne to Mildura – 8 May – 3
Melbourne to Port Macquarie – 4 May – 2
Melbourne to Rockhampton – 11 April – 3
Melbourne to Sunshine Coast – 30 March – 4
Melbourne to Tamworth – 2 May – 2
Melbourne to Toowoomba Wellcamp – 17 April – 4
Toowoomba Wellcamp to Townsville – 19 April – 2
Toowoomba Wellcamp to Whitsunday Coast – 21 April – 2
Tamworth to Sunshine Coast – 6 May – 2
Sunshine Coast to Albury – 7 April – 2
Sunshine Coast to Avalon – 21 February – 3
Sunshine Coast to Cairns – 27 March – 5
Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour – 20 April – 2
Sunshine Coast to Mackay – 14 February – 3
Sunshine Coast to Mildura – 4 April – 2
Sunshine Coast to Newcastle – 28 March – 4
Sunshine Coast to Port Macquarie – 12 April – 2
Sunshine Coast to Rockhampton – 13 March – 3
Sunshine Coast to Townsville – 22 February – 4
Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast – 31 January – 3
Cairns to MacKay – 29 March – 2
Cairns to Rockhampton – 31 March – 2
Newcastle to Whitsunday Coast – 30 March – 2
Rockhampton to Townsville – 24 February – 3
