Brian Wilson, Nine Journalist and Aviation expert to Luke Grant about the new airline start-up Bonza which says it plans to launch 25 routes connecting 16 destinations across Australia when it starts operations later this year, with Sydney losing out to Melbourne for a spot on its initial network.

The carrier will be the first new domestic airline in Australia since Tiger Airways was launched 14 years ago and aims to stir up the market with ultra-low-cost fares to regional towns and popular holiday destinations.

Chief executive Tim Jordan said Bonza’s fares would be similar to Jetstar’s and around half the price of full-service airlines flying on most of its planned routes. A one-hour flight (Sunshine Coast to Rockhampton or Coffs Harbour) would be about $50 one way on average, while longer flights (Melbourne to Sunshine Coast) would average between $75 and $100 one way.

Bonza, which hopes to start flying around the middle of this year, hasl revealed it will base its fleet of Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Sunshine Coast Airport and use Melbourne Airport as a second base.

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