It’s Music to the Ears of Travellers as Flights Commence Between the Sunshine Coast and Tamworth

Marking the 13th flight to commence out of their home base at Sunshine Coast Airport, Bonza today launched the last of the initial new routes welcoming the first flight into the Sunshine Coast from Tamworth.
 
On hand to give passengers from Australia’s country music capital a very warm welcome were a contingent of 20 line dancers and a country singer who will be performing at the upcoming Gympie Muster.
 
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO, Andrew Brodie said the arrival of today’s flight marked the completion of Bonza’s initial roll out from the Sunshine Coast which had already been a game changer for the Sunshine Coast.
 
“We are delighted to welcome the first flight from Tamworth to the Sunshine Coast as Bonza connects these two communities and opens up opportunities for locals to enjoy events like the Gympie Music Muster or the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
 
“The feedback from travellers over the past three months has been nothing short of fantastic.  People are grateful to have a low cost airline servicing their region and I have seen first hand the joy of families and friends being able to reunite.  We really are connecting people to the moments that matter most.
 
“While Tamworth is world famous for being the Country Music Capital of Australia, with a 12-metre high Golden Guitar to prove it, it is also known for its rich and diverse agricultural industry and its incredible food and wine experiences.
 
“On the flip side, the Sunshine Coast, with its golden beaches, great weather and magical hinterland offers something quite different for travellers from Tamworth wanting a short break or holiday and for the first time they can fly direct instead of taking a very long road trip.
 
“As Tamworth is around halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, taking a holiday in Queensland has previously been logistically challenging for people from this region.  To drive here it would take around eight and half hours but, thanks to Bonza, you can now get here in just over an hour.
 
“My message to locals on the Sunshine Coast is to get behind Bonza and forget the long car rides or connecting flights via major city airports. With flights between the Sunshine Coast and Tamworth operating twice a week, and starting from as little as $49 one way, there has never been a better time to explore your own backyard.” 
 
Onboard today’s historic flight was Bonza’s Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey who hinted that there are more routes to come in the future.
 
“Today we complete the roll out of our initial route map from our Sunshine Coast base. Customer feedback and support from the community has been phenomenal. Now all 13 routes are wheels up from the Sunny Coast, our team of legends are focussing on earning the right to grow. We’re taking customer feedback to improve on areas such as on-time performance and updates to the Fly Bonza app.
 
“Our partnership with Sunshine Coast Airport as Bonza’s home base is nothing short of Bonza. The collaboration and support from the airport to get Bonza wheels up has been incredible right from ground operations to marketing and community engagement. We would like to thank them for their ongoing partnership and looking forward to a Bonza future together,” said Povey. 
 
With Bonza anticipated to bring an additional 772,000 seats to the Sunshine Coast and generate an estimated $86million in domestic visitor spend in the first 12 months, bringing the Airport Master Plan 2040 to life is a priority for Mr Brodie.

 
“We are embarking on a period of significant growth and change which will benefit all of SE Qld and we are only just getting started. The first stage was completed in June 2020 when we opened the new longer and wider runway and over the coming years our domestic terminal will double in size, there will be an expansion of the Aerospace Precinct and our Southern Gateway will start to take shape.
 
“In fact, we will be investing up to $1B in infrastructure which will have a significant impact on the regional economy. We will create jobs, attract investment and support the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are building a legacy for generations to come and the Sunshine Coast Airport will play a pivotal role in firmly putting the Sunshine Coast on the map as a destination for business and pleasure.
 
“Our partnership with Bonza is an important milestone in our long term plans for Sunshine Coast Airport which will see us welcome greater volumes of travellers, opening up opportunities not previously available. 
 
“We cannot wait to welcome visitors from across Australia traveling on these brand new routes,” Mr Brodie said.