Budget airline Bonza is slashing five routes across the country due to low demand.
It says the reshuffle is designed to set the company up for long-term success and reduce the likelihood of cancellations.
Services which will be axed from August 1:
- Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour
- Sunshine Coast to Port Macquarie
- Sunshine Coast to Tamworth
- Cairns to Mackay
- Toowoomba Wellcamp to Whitsunday Coast
However, additional flights will be added between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne and Albury.
Bundaberg residents will still be able to fly down to Melbourne twice a week, although there will be a slight change in times.
The Wednesday flight will arrive in Bundaberg at 4:50pm Wednesday and depart for Melbourne at 5:40pm.
On Sundays, the arriving flight will land in the Rum City at 6:45pm and leave at 7:50pm.
The airline’s Chief Commercial officer Carly Povey has penned an open letter to customers.
“We’ve been compelled to take out five routes where there isn’t sustainable demand at present. Twenty two routes remain and where there is very strong demand, we’re also starting to add in additional flights which is very positive this early on in Bonza’s journey,” says Ms Povey.
“In order for us to earn your trust, as we know that we’re at the start of that journey, we have decided to take a step back to allow our services to become more reliable. We will be implementing a range of changes to our schedule from 1 August based on what we have learnt so far and the feedback you’ve given us with regards to route demand. You could say, we’re taking a step back to allow us to take a leap forward.”
Customers booked on routes impacted (from 1st August to 28th October) will be contacted by the airline via SMS and will automatically receive a full refund or alternate flights with Bonza, depending on their scenario.
“To those customers who have or will face a cancelled flight – we apologise. Please wait for our team to contact you. Australia has been waiting for a new airline and you’ve welcomed us with open arms and it is on us to deliver more consistently. These changes allow us to maintain the many great aspects of the Bonza experience whilst also doubling down on consistently delivering reliability,” she says.
