04/04/2023
Yesterday Bonza commenced their first flight to Mildura and like all of the first flights the reception from regional people has been overwhelming.
On each flight, I chat with passengers about why they are travelling, and what these new regional routes mean to them, and overwhelmingly it is about connectivity. Families are now able to connect with more ease than ever before - and it is also affordable to do so. My own daughter flew home from Melbourne yesterday thanks to Bonza - but without the cheaper fares (as much as she loves her mother) she probably would have not come up over Easter.
We are also seeing people able to fly easily for medical appointments and to travel for work. Without exception, our regional cousins are simply grateful.
They are grateful that they are no longer being overlooked and forgotten and that someone is now servicing their area and they are showing their support by flying Bonza.
Aside from connecting families and friends, these new routes will also allow people from the Sunshine Coast region to explore some pretty special regional areas of Australia - and that is also great for the economies in each of the towns Bonza services.
As the first flights continue to roll out it is important to also acknowledge the hard work done by the talented team at the Sunshine Coast Airport. They had the vision and drive to work with Bonza, so they could make the Sunshine Coast Airport their home base, and in doing so have positively impacted our community leading to more people being employed locally and also allowing innovation and entrepreneurialism to flourish - and they are only just getting started.
As a major economic enabler, the Sunshine Coast Aiport, and its continued growth, is of vital importance to our region that will benefit future generations, making the Sunshine Coast a destination of choice for reasons that include, but extend well beyond tourism.
