Following a long delay, Bonza Airlines has officially been granted approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and has confirmed it will fly to 17 interstate and domestic destinations from its Sunshine Coast base.

Getting delegates to business events around the country, particularly to previously under-serviced regional destinations, will now be even easier thanks to the highly anticipated arrival of Bonza Airlines.

The low-cost carrier will service regional airports across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, including 13 from its main hub on the Sunshine Coast, with flights are expected to go on sale within days. See below for further information on routes.

Bonza’s arrival marks the first new major airline for Australia since Tiger Airways in 2007, which shuttered thanks to border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The entry of a new operator will boost competition in the Australian aviation sector, offering more choice to the travelling public, and putting downward pressure on fares,” Minister King said.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the airline was a ‘welcome milestone’ for the nation’s aviation industry and will help with the surging demand in flights post-pandemic.

Bonza Airlines chief executive officer, Tim Jordan, said the excitement for the new launch is palpable and couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Demand for domestic travel is high and Aussies deserve for travel to be a basic right for many, not a luxury for the few,” Jordan said.

Bonza’s fleet includes three Boeing 737 Max-8s, named Shazza, Bazza and Sheila, and as its fleet and workforce grows, its flight network is expected to expand to another 27 routes, including domestic, interstate and international.