Sunshine Coast Airport has welcomed the arrival of Bazza, Bonza’s second aircraft, into Australia.
Travelling from Nadi, the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft under registration VH-UIK arrived into Sunshine Coast Airport at 9:20am on Saturday 29 October.
Chief executive officer Andrew Brodie welcomed the news of Bazza’s arrival, adding that it was another exciting step toward flights from the low-cost carrier’s home base at Sunshine Coast Airport.
“Our partnership with Bonza will benefit the wider region, the state and community by connecting more people to more places, bringing them closer to the moments that matter most,” Mr Brodie said.
“Bonza will directly connect our wider region to 13 destinations, 10 of which have never previously been serviced before, giving residents of South East Queensland an opportunity to travel through Sunshine Coast Airport to the rest of Australia.
“We estimate that Bonza will generate around $86million in visitor expenditure in the region in the first 12 months of flights being operational and bring an additional 772,000 seats to Sunshine Coast.
“We are experiencing significant demand and are committed to working in partnership with the industry to position Sunshine Coast Airport as the airport of choice by connecting this region with the rest of Australia and at the right time internationally.
“2022 has seen record-breaking passenger numbers with YTD achieving 119 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Sunshine Coast Airport is spearheading the region’s recovery with 17 destinations connected to the Sunshine Coast when Bonza takes flight, up from three pre-Covid, boosting us from 10th to the second most domestically connected airport in Queensland.
As a gateway airport for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sunshine Coast Airport has plans to invest up to $1B in infrastructure to boost the regional economy, jobs growth, and support the 2032 Olympics, creating a legacy for generations to come.
With growth in passenger numbers already breaking pre-Covid records and with more than three million passengers expected annually through its doors by 2040, the airport is planning a terminal redevelopment to meet the needs of its customers who come from a catchment area that extends from Bundaberg to northern Moreton Bay.
Sunshine Coast Airport is investing in expanding the Aerospace Precinct and the Southern Gateway will soon start to take shape as part of the 2040 Master Plan creating new jobs and boosting the regional economy.
In addition, Sunshine Coast Airport has plans to develop an international facility that will enable our region to benefit from connections to the Pacific and South-East Asian markets.
Total direct employment at the Airport is expected to grow from 530 to 1200 jobs. The Airport will also support up to 5500 jobs and inject up to $396 million annually to Queensland’s GSP in the tourism and supply chain industries when development is completed.
Sunshine Coast Airport is also the first and only airport in Australia to hold Level 3+ Carbon Neutrality status and are committed to making sure that what makes Sunshine Coast special today, is there for tomorrow.
“The future of Sunshine Coast Airport is exciting, and we will continue to make thoughtful choices that shape the future of our wider region by sharing and showcasing the best our region has to offer and we look forward to working with all our partners and building upon our success to date,” Mr Brodie said.
