Bonza’s Latest Connection Is Tailor Made
Bonza has connected the inland city of Mildura to the surf of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, just in time for the Easter holidays.
When Bonza first revealed its route map, one pair seemed to catch a lot of attention: the one between the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and Mildura in country Victoria. Some thought it was folly, while others thought it bold, but whatever the critics think, it is now up and running.
A two-hour 737 MAX flight or a two-day drive
Today Bonza flight AB599 departed from the Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) at 07:49 and took two hours to cover the 1,350 kilometers (840 miles) to Mildura. The Bonza mantra is all about connecting communities and regions at a price everyone can afford, or as CEO Tim Jordan would say, “for the many and not the few.”
Bonza’s service is the first time people can fly directly between these two regional cities, turning an overnight car trip into a comfortable two-hour ride on a brand-new aircraft. Not to mention the economics of an AU$79 ($52) one-way fare compared to more than 25 hours driving and a motel stop.
This route is tailor-made for what Bonza is trying to achieve, which is to bring low-cost air travel within reach of people who have no viable alternative to the car. The inaugural flight was operated by Sheila, aka a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration VH-UJK, one of four currently in service with Bonza. Sheila departed Mildura Airport (MQL) at 11:14 and landed on the Sunshine Coast at 13:13.
Low-cost travel the way it was designed to be
The route will initially operate twice weekly on Tuesday and Saturday and will be complemented by the Mildura – Melbourne International Airport (MEL) service that commences on May 8th. The route to Melbourne brings low-fare flights to Mildura and puts the two cities within easy reach, perfect for an AFL football match, family catch-up or special event without the eight-hour drive.
Once again, Tim Jordan and his chief operating officer Carly Povey were on hand, with Jordan telling the assembled purple army greeting the flight:
“On the flight we had first-time flyers and that is what Bonza is all about, people flying home to see their grandparents and you are why we are here. So that families can reconnect more regularly across this wonderful country, separated by vast distances but now beautiful aircraft, like Sheila, can bring us together.
“We are about new tourism into the region and people who live in the region wanting to get out because every now and then we want a change of scenery, and that’s what Bonza is all about. We will do that for a really low fare with brand new aircraft and with wonderful service.”
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The cakes keep appearing
Mildura is situated on the banks of the Murray River and is a regional center for local wine and food production. The region is often described as Victoria’s Food Bowl, so it was probably no trouble for a cake to be rustled up for the event. If Bonza achieves nothing else it has stimulated cake production in regional towns and cities, although it’s often a mystery where all the cakes go after being cut.
Easter is traditionally one of the busiest periods for air travel in Australia. The pace and pressure at Bonza will go up a few notches over the next few weeks, as it will at Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Rex. This month Bonza is also launching new routes from the Sunshine Coast to Albury, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, moving ever closer to joining all the dots on its network of 27 routes to 17 destinations.
