Bonza has launched a new route between Sunshine Coast Airport and Mackay Airport. The service runs three times each week, including twice-weekly trips to Mackay from Cairns and Melbourne.

At the Sunshine Coast terminal, passengers and staff on the first flight were met with purple chocolate hearts, a “purple” party, and a BBQ lunch.

“These new Bonza flights offer cost-effective travel, whether for pleasure, visiting friends and family, or business,” said Richard Barker, CEO of North Queensland Airports. “Passengers now may travel between Mackay and the Sunshine Coast, going south towards Noosa or north to visit the Mackay Isaac region. “What was once a 10-hour trip is now a 90-minute fly.”

“We are about connecting communities and providing Australians the ability to travel straight to meet loved ones where it was either too costly or took too long,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza. We’re also keen to make it cheaper to explore your backyard, and Mackay is an excellent example of a largely untapped area. I can’t wait to bring my family back to experience the jungle and beaches.”

Jordan was joined by Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie, who said the milestone was significant for the area as it prepares to welcome visitors from Mackay.

“The Sunshine Coast and Mackay are both beautiful in their own right, rich in history dating back to the pioneering days, but they are also iconic destinations given that one is regarded as Australia’s sugar capital and the other as Australia’s pineapple capital,” Brodie said.

“With the introduction of this new route, travellers will no longer have to pick between two destinations. Customers may now spend time on the Sunshine Coast before travelling north, saving time and money and offering them more flexibility and choice when it comes to vacation planning.”

Via the Fly Bonza app, you can purchase flights from Sunshine Coast to Mackay for as little as $59 per person, one way. The Mackay to Cairns route, which begins on 29 March, is also available to purchase now for $49 per person one way. Bonza is set to be on sale shortly from its Melbourne base, with a twice-weekly service between Melbourne and Mackay.