Bonza Airline routes: where will Australia’s new airline fly?

There’s plenty of buzz surrounding Bonza Airline, the new ultra-low-cost airline in Australia. This independent carrier plans to send waves through the Australian market by making regional travel more accessible, eliminating the need for connecting flights via major cities. That’s right – most of Bonza Airline’s routes are short-haul, direct flights between rural centres.

For Bonza, this means little to no competition on routes underserviced by other airlines and greater fuel efficiency to keep costs low. And for the consumer – particularly the third of Australians living in rural areas – this means better accessibility between points A and B. Bonza’s flights also open up the gateway to rural travel for those in major cities like Melbourne, where the airline has established a base.

While Bonza Airline won’t offer a frequent flyer program or airport lounges, travellers can look forward to a high standard of service – especially with its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Here’s what to expect when Bonza Airline takes to the skies in Australia.

Bonza Airline routes

Bonza Airline initially aimed to launch in late 2022. After being granted an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Bonza Airline’s first flight took off on 31 January 2023 from Sunshine Coast to Whitsundays.

This is a significant milestone and we congratulate Bonza on achieving its Air Operator’s Certificate. The CASA and Bonza teams worked collaboratively throughout the application to ensure the airline’s operations met Australia’s high aviation safety standards.

Australia has one of the safest aviation industries in the world and travellers should be assured when they get on a Bonza aircraft that the operator has been assessed in detail to ensure it complies with the same safety requirements as other Australian airlines.

– Pip Spence, CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety and Chief Executive Officer, 12 January 2023

Bonza has two confirmed bases – Sunshine Coast, also the location of Bonza’s Head Office, and Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport. There are currently 27 routes planned by Bonza across 17 destinations in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, with more routes expected to be announced.

Bonza Airline routes to and from Melbourne (Tullamarine)

• Between Melbourne and Bundaberg
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Gladstone
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Mackay
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Mildura
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Port Macquarie
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Rockhampton
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Sunshine Coast
  • 4 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Tamworth
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Melbourne and Toowoomba Wellcamp
  • 4 flights per week

Bonza Airline routes to and from Sunshine Coast

• Between Sunshine Coast and Albury
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Avalon
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Cairns
  • 5 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Mackay
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Mildura
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Newcastle
  • 4 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Port Macquarie
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Tamworth
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Townsville
  • 4 flights per week
• Between Sunshine Coast and Whitsunday Coast
  • 3 flights per week

Other Bonza Airline routes

• Between Cairns and Mackay
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Cairns and Rockhampton
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Townsville and Rockhampton
  • 3 flights per week
• Between Townsville and Toowoomba Wellcamp
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Whitsunday Coast and Newcastle
  • 2 flights per week
• Between Whitsunday Coast and Toowoomba Wellcamp
  • 2 flights per week

How to book Bonza Airline flights

You can’t book Bonza flights via their website. Everything is done via the Bonza Airline app, called Fly Bonza, which can be downloaded to your iOS or Android device. Consequently, there’s no search function on the website to look up routes or dates.

Here’s how to search and book flights with Bonza Airline.

1. Download the Fly Bonza app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
2. Begin your search by selecting a departure airport on the home screen, or go to ‘Book’.
3. Select your point of departure and destination, your travel date(s) and number of travellers then press ‘Show Flights’.
4. Select your fare type. ‘Flight only’ includes an 8kg carry-on allowance only, while ‘Flight + Bag + Seat’ saves you 10% off the individual price of these add-ons. If you’d rather add seat selection or checked baggage separately, select ‘Flight only’ and you’ll be presented with these options on the following screens.
5. Enter passenger details.
6. Click on the icon of your preferred payment type and enter your payment details. At the time of writing, Bonza Airline only accepts payment by Mastercard or Visa debit cards, Mastercard or Visa credit cards, or POLi bank transfer. American Express credit cards are not accepted, and buy now, pay later services like Afterpay and Zip Pay are unavailable.
7. Review your flight details, passenger information and payment details.
8. Hit ‘Book now’, and you’re on your way to flying with Bonza!

After you’ve booked your flight, ensure you keep the Fly Bonza app installed on your device. You’ll need it to manage your booking, check-in for your flight and redeem your digital boarding pass.

How do I manage my Bonza Airline booking?

Similarly, you can’t manage an existing booking – including purchasing checked baggage or selecting a seat – via the Bonza website. Access to the app is required (which you’ll already have from booking the flight) and the process to modify a booking is simple.

1. In the Bonza app, go to ‘My Trips’ and enter your booking confirmation number and last name.
2. You’ll be presented with the option to change your flight and manage add-ons like seat selection, checked baggage and oversized items.

As with flight bookings, any add-ons or fees payable for changes to your booking can only be made with Mastercard or Visa debit cards, Mastercard or Visa credit cards or POLi.

Does Bonza Airline have a frequent flyer program?

Bonza doesn’t offer a frequent flyer program or loyalty program for customers. But you can still earn points from your booking by paying with a points-earning credit card.

Summing up

Bonza Airline’s flights are expected to provide greater connectivity across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales rural centres.

And as a new airline in Australia, Bonza opens up the opportunity for Aussies to access more holiday destinations with ease.

Let us know in the comments below – will you be flying any of Bonza Airline’s routes in Australia?

FAQs