By Geoffrey Thomas
Published 031 Jul 31, 2022
Bonza's first 737 MAX aircraft touched down at Sunshine Coast Airport this morning marking a major milestone for Australia's newest low-cost carrier.
It is the first Boeing 737 MAX to be based in Australia and will be part of a fleet of aircraft based initially on the Sunshine Coast and in Melbourne.
The initial network is 17 destinations on 27 routes.
“We are beyond excited to welcome our first aircraft to Sunshine Coast Airport and with so much buzz around the country for Bonza, we hope today is also exciting for the communities we’ll be flying to. Our team of legends have been working hard behind the scenes to reach this significant milestone and so it was important that we were all here to welcome flight AB 001 together,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.
“We are now one important step closer to connecting more Australians with convenient low-cost travel options to more destinations for holidays and to visit loved ones.”
The airline says that the aircraft that touched down today will be used as a spare aircraft, "a clear investment in customer experience and part of Bonza’s strategy to minimise potential disruptions to its customers wherever possible."
Additional aircraft will follow and ultimately support Bonza’s growth plans beyond its initial Sunshine Coast and Melbourne bases.
“This is an exciting time for Australian aviation and most importantly, the Aussie travelling public who will now enjoy more choice,” added Jordan. Ninety-three per cent of Bonza’s routes are currently not serviced by another airline (25 out of 27 routes) and 96 per cent are not currently served by a low-cost carrier.
Flights the airline says are expected to start from around $50 for each hour a customer is in the air and eight kilograms of carry-on baggage is included in the flight price.
Speaking at the arrival, Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie said: “The arrival of Bonza’s first aircraft into the Sunshine Coast is a momentous day for the region”.
“We are very proud to be named as the home base for Bonza. Our partnership with Bonza will benefit the region, State and community connecting more people to more places, bringing them closer to the moments that matter most.
Australians are encouraged to download the Fly Bonza app which will be the only place to book directly. The airline’s ‘app first’ strategy means flights will not be available for purchase on third-party websites allowing Bonza to communicate directly with customers about their upcoming flights. In addition to booking and check-in, the Fly Bonza app is also where customers can order food and drink from the menu directly to their seats and enjoy the in-flight entertainment.
The airline is calling out to help name the plane by asking for comments on Bonza’s social media pages with their nicknames.
“Who better to name our first aircraft than the people we are here to serve? If you have a nickname that would look good on the side of our first aircraft, head to our Instagram and Facebook pages and let us nick your nickname,” added Mr Jordan
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