Jake Nelson

Bonza’s 737 MAX 8 aircraft VH-UIK, nicknamed “Bazza”, touched down at Sunshine Coast Airport as flight AB1023 at 11:07am local time this morning, having departed Melbourne Tullamarine at 10:01am. Bonza is planning to operate two aircraft from Melbourne flying nine routes, seven of which are unique to the low-cost carrier.

Flight VA83 landed in Denpasar at 10:08pm last night, using a Boeing 737-800, having taken off from the Gold Coast at 6:15pm. Virgin bills it as one of its most anticipated short-haul international services, with daily flights to operate in school holiday periods and four return flights per week during the off-peak.

WA Tourism Minister Roger Cook said Qantas’ slow pace in moving to Terminal 1 is keeping Perth Airport from being the “western gateway to Australia”.

Geoff Culbert suggested the airlines were requesting more take-off slots than they needed and then cancelling them on purpose. It follows both Bonza and Rex complaining that it was difficult for them to get access to the airport.

Flight AB609 from the Sunshine Coast touched down yesterday at 2:55 pm, with the inaugural Newcastle flight using Bonza’s Boeing 737 MAX VH-UIK, nicknamed “Bazza”.

The announcement comes after Rex’s deputy chairman, John Sharp, quipped he “can’t imagine” why anyone would fly the airline’s upcoming route between Coffs Harbour and the Sunshine Coast.