Bonza speared for mid-year take-off

Regional airline launch pushed back

PLANS for new low-cost regional flights from Townsville have been pushed back from June to September due to delays in the delivery of aircraft and regulatory approvals.

But Townsville is “very high at that list” for when services begin, according to Bonza Airlines chief commercial officer Carly Povey.

The new budget carrier has released an open letter to travellers providing an update on its plans to offer fares from $50. It revealed a 27-route regional network in February, including four flights per week from Townsville to the Sunshine Coast, three per week to Rockhampton and twice weekly to Toowoomba.

The flights were expected to take off mid-year with ticket sales this month but the letter, by Ms Povey, suggests people should now look elsewhere for travel in July and August. Further updates will be provided in “coming weeks”, she writes.

Ms Povey told the Townsville Bulletin people would be able to fly from Townsville “around September”, initially to the Sunshine Coast, then Rockhampton and then Toowoomba.

Subject to regulatory approvals and delivery of aircraft, there would be about a twomonth rollout between the first flights and the Toowoomba services starting “around October-november”, she said.

“All in advance of Christmas is our aim,” Ms Povey said.

The letter says their first aircraft will touch down “slightly later” than expected but that they have been able to “map out the in-country process”.

“In short, we’re making good progress and in the coming weeks I will provide further updates,” Ms Povey says.

Ms Povey recommends people download their Fly Bonza App to “get ahead of the news”, while it will also be the only place to book direct. Fares are expected to start around $50, depending on the length of the flight, with prices based on $50 per hour of flight time.

Backed by US private investment firm 777 Partners, Bonza wants to create a new market around leisure-driven domestic routes.

The low-cost carrier will operate 737 Max 8 aircraft, the same model subject to a global grounding in 2019 after two fatal crashes, but which are back in service and are used by Singapore Airlines and Fiji Airways on flights to Australia.

With new aircraft configured for 186 seats, Ms Povey said their low-cost model was based on flying high-capacity aircraft at lower frequencies.

“Right sizing the frequency, we believe, is really the difference we are bringing to the market,” Ms Povey said.