A new independent, low fare airline will be launched in Australia in the coming months and claims it will offer more travel choices and more affordable air travel across Australia.
The airline will be entitled Bonza and have a fleet made up entirely of Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
Of the 15 largest domestic aviation markets in the world, Australia is the only country without an independent low cost airline; the most established budget carrier, Jetstar, is owned by Qantas.
Part of the airline's plan appears to be to leave the big cities to the likes of Qantas and Virgin Australia, instead offering direct flights to and from other popular destinations around the country.
"Bonza's mission is to encourage more travel by providing more choices and ultra-low fares, particularly into leisure destinations where travel is now often limited to connections via major cities," the airline's founder and CEO Tim Jordan said.
"Bonza will deliver enormous benefits to all Australians, but particularly to regional communities by providing new routes and greater travel opportunities. Bonza will also play a leading role in Australia's post-pandemic economic recovery - creating jobs, stimulating travel and consumer spending and helping regional communities, especially those that rely on tourism, get back on their feet."
Jordan has more than 25 years of aviation experience, previously working at low-cost carriers Cebu Pacific and Virgin Blue.
Most recently, he was the architect and managing director of FlyArystan, the first low-cost carrier in Central Asia.
Bonza is the latest low-cost carrier launched by US private investment firm 777 Partners, which owns popular airlines in Canada and Southeast Asia.
"There is a huge opportunity to both do good and do well by democratising air travel through lower costs. We want to increase consumer choice and make travel more affordable and more accessible for all Australians," Josh Wander, Managing Partner at 777 Partners said.
When asked if there was any possibility Bonza would enter the Tasman market by offering flights to New Zealand, a spokesperson said it was too early to tell.
Subject to necessary regulatory approvals, Bonza's service launch is anticipated in early 2022.
