Bonza to link Launceston with the Gold Coast

Tasmania is becoming more and more connected.

Low-cost airline Bonza this week announced it will connect the Gold Coast to Launceston (above) for the first time with year-round flights starting in November.

The unveiling of Launceston as a destination marks the Tasmanian debut of Bonza, and is the 18th destination for the carrier which launched this year.

From November 21, travellers will be able to fly directly between the Gold Coast and Launceston three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with prices starting from $79pp via the FlyBonza app.

Launceston Airport CEO Shane O’Hare said the new route will open up more leisure opportunities for Tasmanians searching for a holiday in the sun.

“These year-round services will make it much easier for Tasmanians to enjoy Australia’s favourite holiday hotspot, but it also opens the door for thousands more tourists from south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales to visit our state,” he said.

Bonza CCO Carly Povey said the carrier’s buzz is already reaching Tasmanians, who have downloaded its app 11,000 times, adding “there will be more destinations for Launceston, and Bonza’s wider route map, to come”, with details to be revealed “when the time is right”.

The flights are still subject to regulatory approval but they must be confident as tickets are already on sale.

"This is good news for Aussie travellers and the many small-to-medium businesses who make up the local tourism and hospitality industries,” Povey added.

Launceston is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a gateway to nature experiences including Cradle Mountain. It is thee first destination outside of Australia’s East Coast to be added to Bonza’s network.