Bonza expands its route network to the Northern Territory
The Sunshine Coast based airline has introduced new routes to the Northern Territory, offering flights to Darwin (from Sunshine and Gold Coast) and Alice Springs (from Melbourne).
Image: Ryder Magsalin
Bonza is Australia’s newest low-cost carrier, operating on a point-to-point base system. The airline currently has a fleet of 4 Boeing 737 Max 8’s with an average age of just over 4.2 years old (at the time of writing this article), currently serving 17 airports scattered around Australia’s east coast (flightconnections.com).
The Sunshine Coast-based airline has recently announced flights to Darwin and Alice Springs, raising their total destinations to 19. Bonza aims to fly a total of 12 flights per week to and from the Northern Territory between their hubs in Queensland and Victoria. This will result in the addition of 116’000 seats to/from the NT each year.
Image: @aviationjett
The Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme (TTAS), initiated by the Northern Territory Government, is the cause for Bonza’s expansion. This scheme aims to create more competition in the skies of the Northern Territory, pressuring other low-cost airlines like Airnorth and Alliance Airlines.
Flights are on sale today with the Sunny Coast-Darwin route priced from $149pp (one way) starting on 29 November; Gold Coast-Darwin also priced from $149pp (one way) starting on 1 December and Melbourne-Alice Springs starting from $139pp (one way) commencing on 12 December.
As of the time of writing this article, flights are now on sale as of follows:
Sunshine Coast - Darwin: AUD $149pp (one way), commencing on Nov 29
Gold Coast - Darwin: AUD $149pp (one way), commencing Dec 1, and
Melbourne - Alice Springs: AUD $139pp (one way), commencing Dec 12
Image: @ethansaircraft
On Wednesday, September 20th, Bonza CEO Tim Jordan (ex CEO of Virgin Blue) spoke at Darwin Intl Airport, commending the TTAS, claiming its importance in attracting the airline to begin services to the region. He also mentioned Bonza’s impact on the Northern Territory, stating that “it would bring the NT closer to more Aussies than before.”
“Our purple army of supporters have asked to include the Northern Territory to our available routes, and today I’m honoured to announce the news from Darwin. Travellers from the Sunshine and Gold Coast can now directly fly to the Top End without stopping over at a major airport. Additionally, citizens of Melbourne are able to travel to Alice Springs at a much lower cost.”