In a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics’ inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition and business formation, the airport urged the Government to lift the current 80-20 “use it or lose it” rule to 95-5.

The service, to launch on 21 November, is Bonza’s first outside the eastern seaboard, and will connect it to its fourth state after Queensland, NSW and Victoria. With 11 other routes planned from its new Gold Coast base, Bonza will operate 34 concurrent routes to 18 destinations.

The huge new deal will see next generation Boeing and Airbus aircraft replace its ageing fleet of A330s.

The widely expected news comes after it recorded a record $1.428 billion half-year profit, which it put down to a better-than-expected demand for flying post-COVID.