Bonza inaugural flight: Australia’s new budget airline launches with trip to the Whitsundays

Australia’s newest low-cost airline, Bonza, has officially taken off.

Daily Mail Australia was on board the first Bonza flight along with 160 other passengers for a trip from the Sunshine Coast to the Whitsundays on Tuesday.

Bonza tickets went on sale last week and more than 10,000 seats have already been sold, with flights from $49 to $79 each way.

The airline says it focuses on being for all Australians and therefore all staff are referred to as ‘Bonza legends’.

Even Bonza’s fleet is named in the most profound way, with the three aircraft on the Sunshine Coast to Whitsundays route named Bazza, Shazza and Sheila.

And everything Bonza can be done on your phone, from booking flights to buying Bonza brand purple budgie smugglers.

Here’s what you can expect when flying the new budget airline.

On Bonza’s first trip, 161 socialites took their seats on Australia’s newest booming airline and the airline said it has already sold more than 10,000 seats on upcoming flights.

The airline focuses on being for all Australians and so in an Aussie twist, all Bonza staff are known as ‘Bonza legends’ and even branded budgie smugglers can be bought while in the air at through your app.

Their fleet is named in most cases, with the three planes carrying passengers from the Sunshine Coast to the Whitsundays, the Bazza, Shazza and Sheila.

What to expect when flying with Bonza

Bonza’s key message revolves around modernizing the flight, being for all Australians and focusing on low costs, all of which were on display when it first took to the skies.

From booking to check-in, food ordering and inflight entertainment, the Bonza app is where it all happens.

By the time you step foot on the plane, it’s a little soft, with minimal legroom in all seats that aren’t next to the emergency seats, but while it’s not as flashy as other fleets of planes, you get what you are paying for. .

Everything during the flight is done via the Bonza app or the Bonza website, which can be accessed on board by scanning the QR code on the seat in front of you.

The food and drink menu was the most popular feature, loved by everyone on the inaugural flight, as many passengers drew comparisons to the service like Uber Eats in the air.

From booking to check-in to food ordering to in-flight entertainment, the Bonza app is where it all happens.

The food and drink menu was the most popular feature, loved by everyone on the inaugural flight, as many passengers drew comparisons to the service like Uber Eats in the air. Food and drink on board, like the airline, focuses on regional Australian produce, with beers and food sourced from local Australian breweries and sourced locally.

Food and drink on board included regional Australian produce, with locally sourced beers and food.

For entertainment, there are games, music, comics, coloring templates, and even merchandise (Bonza purple parakeet smugglers) that can be purchased over the air.

The entire aircraft is a 176 economy class cabin and aims to get its passengers from point A to point B with a minimum of frills and stress.

“This is about getting people who don’t currently fly flying and flying non-stop to regional regions,” Bonza Chief Executive Tim Jordan said.

“Whether you’re snorkeling in the Whitsunday Islands or having a cool drink in Australia’s craft beer capital, the Sunshine Coast, we’re honored to take you there.

“Today’s historic flight comes at a time when demand is high for Australians to explore their own backyard.”

Jordan said the airline will target communities that have not been served to date, with the airline’s focus on regional communities and pledging that low fares are here to stay.

“We are confident we can keep rates at these levels and we must offer low rates to Australians,” Jordan said.

The budget airline will fly a total of 17 routes, including 13 from its base on the Sunshine Coast (pictured)

“We are a leisure focused airline and we don’t have those bells and whistles of other airlines, it’s all about not adding cost to our customers and we want to keep it cheap.

“What our first customers will experience on board is a new approach to flying where we keep the standard high in quality and our costs low.”

Jordan previously said the airline’s target market was “average Australians” such as “workers, teachers, children and carers”.

“Demand for domestic travel is high and Australians deserve to make travel a basic right for many, not a luxury for a few.”

Bonza’s flight network is expected to expand to some 27 routes in the near future, consisting of domestic, interstate and international, as the airline’s fleet and workforce grow.

Backed by US venture capital firm 777 Partners, 93 percent of the low-cost airline’s destinations are not served by any other airline.

The Bonza CEO said that the airline will target communities that have not been served to date, and the airline focuses on regional communities, and promised that low fares are here to stay.

The introduction of Bonza adds competition to Virgin, Qantas and JetStar, which in turn is expected to lower prices.

Tuesday’s launch makes Bonza the first major new Australian airline since Tiger Airways in 2007, which ultimately closed due to Covid-imposed travel lockdowns.

The airline will serve regional airports in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, including 13 from its base on the Sunshine Coast.

Within Queensland, Bonza passengers will be able to fly from the airline’s hub to Cairns, Townsville, the Whitsunday coast, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Toowoomba Wellcamp.

Interstate Bonza travelers can fly from the Sunshine Coast to Albury, Avalon, Coffs Harbour, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Tamworth.

Travelers taking a flight from Melbourne can fly direct to 10 destinations, including Mildura, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast and Port Macquarie.

The introduction of Bonza adds competition to Virgin, Qantas and JetStar, which in turn is expected to lower prices.