Flying home with Bonza

BONZA airline’s first flight from the Sunshine Coast to Cairns will be bringing two Mareeba locals cabin crew members with them, with Jacqueline Caspersen and Jade Lankester excited to touch down on home soil.

The flight, taking off on 27 March, has been dubbed a “Bonza homecoming” for the two local women as they return home for the first time in several years.

Ms Caspersen and Ms Lankester have both grown up in the Mareeba community, with many fond memories of their time “in the bush” before taking on roles with the new budget flight group.

Growing up on a tobacco farm in Paddy’s Green, Cabin Supervisor and Inflight Customer Experience Trainer Ms Caspersen recalls her love for the rural area.

“I remember hour and a half daily bus rides to school, bush walk adventures, late afternoon golf games at the Mareeba Golf Course with my golf-nutty family and sundowners with my neighbours overlooking the Barron River,” she said.

“A truly wonderful and unique tradition was the big Mareeba Rodeo and the Friday night procession was always an annual highlight when I was a kid.

“(I don’t visit Mareeba and Cairns) as often as I would like. I get homesick and follow the local Mareeba Facebook His- tory Groups with keen interest.”

Working with Bonza is something Ms Caspersen enjoys immensely, with some of her highlights being listening to grandparents “going for a quick trip to visit the grandkids”.

Ms Lankester, who has taken on the role of Cabin Supervisor and Cabin Crew Line Trainer and Checker, was inspired to work in airlines after growing up near the Mareeba Airport.

Watching the annual air show was a highlight when living in Mareeba and she is excited to return home and reconnect with her roots.

“Growing up I lived across from the Mareeba Aerodrome, so some of my childhood memories are of the annual air show,” she said.

“Further to this I lived on a plantation property, so a lot of my weekends were spent riding ATVs around the farm.

“(I don’t visit home) often enough! Maybe twice a year if anything… but I’m so excited to get home more often now with direct Sunshine Coast to Cairns return services!”

Chief Commercial Officer at Bonza Carly Povey said Cairns is proving to be a top destination for Bonza patrons, with flights quickly selling out after being released in January.

She stated Bonza has already sold well over 10,000 seats across their route map and are excited be the trusted flight group taking locals to their des- tination.

“Cairns is proving to be a top destination for Bonza customers as families and travellers look to spend time in the Tropical North Queensland city where the Great Barrier Reef meets World Heritage Listed rainforests,” she said.

“Bonza went on sale with its Sunshine Coast base on 27 January and after just a few days had sold well in excess of 10,000 seats across our route map.

“Today, that figure is in the tens of thousands showing a real appetite from Aussie travellers to see more of their backyard in-