Jake Nelson

The return A320 service will operate three times per week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, adding around 1,100 seats per week between the two cities. When combined with Jetstar’s existing Sydney route, the airline will carry up to 3,800 passengers per week to and from Hervey Bay.

The 737 MAX 8 (similar aircraft pictured), registered C-FLKC, touched down at around 8:40 on Friday night as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Bonza’s sister Canadian airline, Flair, that will see Bonza send its own aircraft to Canada during the North American peak season once it has a larger fleet in its own right.

The airport saw almost 14.2 million passengers in FY23, up 6.8 million on the previous year and 8.3 million on FY21, which saw the worst of the COVID-19 border closures. The profit comes despite revenue per passenger remaining below pre-COVID levels.

Airfield ground lighting upgrades will take place over coming months. Works requiring nighttime runway closures, which were scheduled to finish this year, will now wrap up in March 2024 due to delays in government approvals.

The pilot is believed to have lost control of the GlaStar light aircraft, registered VH-BAQ, when a sudden gust of wind hit as he came in to land on a grass airstrip at Cootharaba on Sunday.

The “wings night” on Thursday saw around 250 people turn out to congratulate more than 64 recipients of awards and qualifications including RPL, PPL, and CPL graduates. It was the first time the night had been held at Randwick, having moved from the QVB tearooms due to high demand.