Holiday at home with Bonza launching first ever flights between Newcastle and the Whitsunday Coast
First ever flights between Newcastle and the Whitsunday Coast
Thu 30 March 2023
Travellers can ditch their overseas travel plans and visit one of the most popular beach destinations in the world or, dive into the rich art culture on offer in our own backyard as Bonza launches its twice weekly service from Newcastle to the Whitsunday Coast today.
“Forget the hassle of overseas travel with this direct route connecting Newcastle to Airlie Beach and the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. If you’re after a touch of art and culture, fly direct to Newcastle where there are more art galleries and artists per capita than anywhere else in the country,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.
Today’s new route is part of Bonza’s ongoing launch with this week seeing the introduction of flights between the Sunshine Coast and Cairns, Newcastle and Melbourne Tullamarine. Yesterday, Bonza launched Cairns to Mackay and on Friday it will introduce a Cairns to Rockhampton service. The ramp up comes as Bonza looks to enjoy its first ever peak holiday period with Easter and school holidays kicking off this week in Queensland.
Pictured: Aerial view of people looking out over the blue waters, from Hill Inlet Lookout, Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Bonza says Aussies are embracing the airline’s app first approach with hundreds of thousands of downloads taking it to number one most popular app on Android and number one in the travel section of Apple.
“The response so far has been nothing short of Bonza. Customers are loving our brand new planes, all Aussie menu and the service onboard by our inflight legends. Forward bookings are looking strong and we’re getting ready to add additional flights for sale soon including Christmas and summer holidays,” added Jordan.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall applauded Bonza for exploring new routes to make it easy for Aussie families in regional areas to reconnect.
“Connecting the amazing Newcastle and Hunter Valley wine region to the beautiful Whitsundays, heart of the Great Barrier Reef is a win for both communities,” she said.
“From the vines to the reef opens a huge catchment area that can now access budget direct flights to the wonderful Whitsundays.”
Peter Cock, CEO of Newcastle Airport, expressed his excitement about the partnership with Bonza.
"We are delighted to have Bonza as a partner in expanding our flight network and supporting the growth of our regional tourism industry,” he said.
“Our region now has access to a whole new era in low-cost air travel. This is something not available in Sydney. Bonza's innovative low-cost model means people can now travel to the Whitsundays for as little as $79 (per person) one way. This coupled with the convenience of flying from Newcastle Airport and low-cost parking means an affordable journey for all travellers, whether they are families, couples, or solo adventurers.”
Travellers are encouraged to download the Fly Bonza app which is the only place to book direct.
Bonza - Australia’s new, and only independent low-cost airline, enabling Australians to explore more of their own backyard, and at low-cost prices. Bonza’s initial route map includes 27 routes to 17 destinations. Ninety three per cent of Bonza routes are not currently served by any airline and 96% not currently served by a low-cost carrier. The only place to book direct is on the Fly Bonza app.
