NEW low-cost airline Bonza has launched a fresh route connecting the Gold Coast to Launceston with year-round flights starting in November.
Launceston marks the first time Bonza will fly to Tasmania, with the state’s second largest city becoming the 18th destination for the carrier that began flying in January this year.
From the 21 November, travellers will be able to zip directly between the Gold Coast and Launceston three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Launceston Airport CEO Shane O’Hare said, “These year-round services will make it much easier for Tasmanians to enjoy Australia’s favourite holiday hotspot, but it also opens the door for thousands more tourists from south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales to visit our state.”
Prices kick off at $79 if travellers use the FlyBonza app, something which Bonza Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey said 11,000 Tasmanians had already done.
She also flagged more routes connecting Launceston to the mainland.
“There will be more destinations for Launceston, and Bonza’s wider route map, to come,” she said. “We look forward to revealing what’s next when the time is right.
“This brand new low-cost route is a first to operate year round and will open up opportunities in both destinations for tourism and trade. It’s good news for Aussie travellers and the many small to medium businesses who make up the local tourism and hospitality industries.”
Bonza’s latest announcement comes after the carrier recently made significant alterations to its routes and scheduling.
In July this year it announced it would scrap five routes including Sunshine Coast to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth, as well as from Toowoomba to the Whitsundays and Cairns to Mackay.
Lesser performing routes also had services cut.
The airline, however, did add capacity to routes that had performed well including Sunshine Coast to Albury, Sunshine Coast to Avalon, and Melbourne to Port Macquarie. Those routes had their frequency increased by one flight per week.
Bonza wasn’t the only airline to add a new key route to the Apple Isle recently.
On 17 August Rex started flights connecting Hobart to Melbourne using its 737-800 – the first time Rex had sent its largest aircraft to Tasmania.
