Australia's Newest Airline Bonza Launches its Second Route from the Sunshine Coast to Mackay Airport - Boeing B737-8 MAX VH-UIK BNZ593/4

On Tuesday 14 February, low-cost start-up Bonza Airline continued its staggered start of its new network, launching its second route from its base on the Sunshine Coast up to Mackay Airport.

Bonza's B737-8 MAX VH-UJT at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

Bonza's Boeing B737-8 MAX VH-UIK - named 'Bazza' - touched down at Mackay Airport as BNZ593 from the Sunshine Coast before it later returned there as BNZ594.

Bonza’s first route from the Sunshine Coast to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport began at the end of January.  This route will 're-start' this Thursday 16 February with up to three flights per week planned.

Bonza will next begin flights from the Sunshine Coast to Melbourne (Avalon) next Tuesday 21 February and then to Townsville on Wednesday 22 February.  It also seems they will link Townsville to Rockhampton Airport from Friday 24 February.

Bonza is the first Australian operator to attempt to fly so-called 'point-to-point' leisure services that skip out major cities and allow consumers to fly direct from holiday destination to holiday destination.

The business has said 93 per cent of its final network - 25 out of its 27 routes - are not currently flown by any other airline, while 96 per cent are not served by any other low-cost carrier.

Bonza was hoping to begin flying last winter but waited far longer than expected to receive its crucial licence to fly from CASA, which came through in early January.

It currently has a fleet of three Boeing B737-8 MAX aircraft to service its early network but plans to expand that to as many as eight aircraft as it services more destinations.

UPDATE!  On Friday 17 February, Bonza took delivery its fourth Boeing B737-8 MAX with VH-UKH touching down on the Sunshine Coast from the USA via Honolulu and Nadi.  VH-UKH will reportedly wear the name 'Malc'.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©