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Small Australian airlines have had a bit of a bad run in recent years, with Rex Airlines going bust in 2024 straight off the back of news that budget carrier Bonza had collapsed. Despite being globally ranked as Australia’s third best airline and connecting dozens of smaller regional towns and cities around the country, Rex couldn’t compete with the duopoly held by Qantas and Virgin Australia. Now, a new budget airline has entered the chat – and we've heard it could be Australia’s answer to Ryanair.
If Zinc Airlines eventuates, it will aim to drive prices down, with a fleet of Airbus A321neos set to bypass the competitive market of the country’s busiest airports and take flight from the new Western Sydney International Airport that's opening this October. Peter Kelly – the former head of Qantas’ frequent flyer program – is calling for up to $200 mill to fund his new airline.
Kelly says his plan is to model the airline on the ultra-low-cost carrier Ryanair, the wallet-friendly airline that's been ferrying Aussies around Europe for years. Kelly hopes to offer cheaper base fares across the country than Jetstar. However, as with most budget airlines, you can still expect all the usual add-on costs for options like seat selection, priority boarding and checked luggage.
Stay tuned for more info. Plus, find out about the other new Aussie airline, Koala Airlines, which will also launch soon.
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