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Bonza

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This article is about the Australian low-cost airline. For the town in Burkina Faso, see Bonza, Banwa Province. For the video game, see Bonza (video game). For other uses, see Bonzer.

Bonza
IATA ICAO Call sign
AB BNZ BONZA
FoundedOctober 2021; 3 years ago (2021-10)
Commenced operations31 January 2023; 21 months ago (2023-01-31)
Operating bases
Fleet size4
Destinations21
Parent company777 Partners
HeadquartersSunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Key peopleTim Jordan (Founder & CEO)
Websitewww.flybonza.com

Bonza Aviation Pty Ltd, operating as Bonza, is an Australian low-cost airline, headquartered on the Sunshine Coast. Bonza commenced operations on 31 January 2023. On 30 April 2024, the airline entered voluntary administration with all services suspended.

History

Background

Bonza was founded in October 2021 by former Virgin Blue executive Tim Jordan.[1][2] U.S. investment firm 777 Partners were the inaugural investors and backers.[1]

The airline signalled its intention to disassociate from the main cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane,[1] instead setting up its headquarters at Sunshine Coast Airport[3] with the aim of growing the market by focusing on under-utilised and unserved routes between regional and domestic cities through a point-to-point network model, similar to that of Ryanair in Europe.[4][5] As a low-cost carrier, Bonza launched without a frequent-flyer program or airport lounges[1] and limited bookings solely to its FlyBonza app.[6] To differentiate themselves from other airlines, Bonza launched as a "Bogan airline", appealing to the bogan Australian culture by offering items and services associated with bogans such as airline branded swim briefs known as budgie smugglers, food typically found at a school tuckshop, and the staff being labelled as "Legends".[7]

First Base and Launch

Bonza initially revealed its intention to begin flying by early 2022.[1][2] However, its first routes were only announced in February 2022,[8] and the airline did not receive its air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority until 12 January 2023.[9][10]

Sales for routes from the Sunshine Coast base began on 27 January 2023 after Bonza had received its AOC. There were eleven initial destinations:

A Bonza Boeing 737 MAX 8 landing at Avalon Airport after a test flight in December 2022.

The airline's initial route map also consisted of several other routes:

  • Cairns - Rockhampton
  • Cairns - Mackay
  • Newcastle - Whitsunday Coast
  • Rockhampton - Townsville.[11]

Bonza commenced operations on 31 January 2023, flying from its base at Sunshine Coast to the Whitsundays.[12] They initiated services with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft[13] in an all-economy configuration,[14] becoming the first Australian airline to operate the Boeing 737 MAX.[15][16][17]

Second Base

When announcing its initial network in February 2022, the airline also announced a second base in Melbourne.[8]

Tickets for flights to/from the Melbourne base were put on sale on 23 February 2023, with flights to:

Additionally, the airline also launched sales for several other routes:

  • Toowoomba - Townsville
  • Toowoomba - Whitsunday Coast
  • Sunshine Coast - Tamworth.[18]

Flights from the Melbourne base commenced on 30 March 2023 with the inaugural flight to the Sunshine Coast.[19]

Reliability Issues and Network Changes

Travel Weekly reported in late June that Bonza was attributing a recent increase in flight cancellations to an industry-wide pilot shortage. The airline had cancelled 4% of its flights since February, and had cancelled seven flights that were scheduled to operate in July. The airline's chief operating officer Carly Povey cited crew shortages, a pilot training program that was behind schedule, and aircraft that were temporarily put out of action due to bird strikes and weather events as some of the other causes of the reliability issues.[20]

On 13 July 2023, Bonza announced it would scrap five routes:

  • Sunshine Coast - Port Macquarie
  • Sunshine Coast - Tamworth
  • Sunshine Coast - Coffs Harbour
  • Toowoomba - Whitsunday Coast
  • Cairns - Mackay.

Whilst the ABC reported Povey stating that the changes were due to a lack of demand,[21] an open letter published on Bonza's website from Povey addressed to the airline's passengers noted that the airline had faced reliability issues and was delaying or cancelling flights, and that changes would allow the airline to focus on routes with "sustainable demand" and also provide spare capacity to mitigate delays and cancellations in case of reliability issues in the future. Apart from the cancelled routes, Bonza also announced frequency reductions by one weekly flight for several routes, and the addition of one weekly service to three routes: Sunshine Coast - Albury, Sunshine Coast - Melbourne (Avalon) and Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Port Macquarie.

The open letter also announced that sales for flights between late October 2023 and April 2024 would commence soon, and that work to establish a third base was progressing.[22]

Third Base

On 1 August 2023, Bonza announced it would open its third base at Gold Coast Airport to coincide with the beginning of the summer holidays.[23] Flights would commence from the new base progressively starting in November, with routes from the Gold Coast to eleven destinations on the airline's existing route network:

  • Albury
  • Bundaberg
  • Cairns
  • Gladstone
  • Mackay
  • Melbourne (Avalon)
  • Melbourne (Tullamarine)
  • Mildura
  • Rockhampton
  • Townsville
  • Whitsunday Coast

The airline's media release also mentioned that due to global aircraft supply challenges, it would partner with a wet leasing provider to source the additional aircraft required to operate routes from the base.[24]

A few days later, Travel Bulletin reported that a reciprocal wet lease agreement had been entered into with Flair Airlines, which is also backed by 777 Partners and operates a fleet consisting entirely of the Boeing 737. Under the agreement, Bonza would send aircraft and crew to Canada to operate on Flair Airlines routes during the North American peak travel season, and Flair Airlines would do the same with their aircraft and crew for Bonza during the Australian peak travel season, hence providing additional capacity for both airlines during peak travel periods. Flair Airlines stated that it would wet lease two aircraft to Bonza for its Gold Coast base.[25]

On 24 August 2023, Bonza announced an additional route from the Gold Coast to Launceston, and hinted at additional routes from Launceston to be announced in the future. The route announcement marks the airline's entry into Tasmania, the fourth state to be serviced by the airline. Flights on the Gold Coast - Launceston route would start in November, around the same time as flights on the previously announced 11 routes would commence.[26]

On 18 September 2023, a twice-weekly Gold Coast to Mount Isa route was announced, which would commence on 5 December 2023.[27]

Two days later, the airline announced and launched sales for three new twice-weekly routes: Sunshine Coast to Darwin, Gold Coast to Darwin and Melbourne to Alice Springs. The launch of the routes will mark the airline's entry into the Northern Territory, its fifth Australian state or territory, which were the result of Northern Territory Government subsidies provided through its Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme, and the 20th and 21st destinations on its network.[28] On 30 November 2023 the airline cancelled all planned flights between Darwin and the Gold Coast during December, only hours before the first scheduled flight on the route.[29]

In late September, Bonza announced and launched Bonza Holidays, a package holiday booking scheme that bundles accommodation with flights and optional travel insurance.[30]

Suspension of operations

On 30 April 2024, Bonza was placed in voluntary administration after its aircraft were grounded by their lessors.[31][32][33] In response, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia announced that Bonza customers scheduled to travel on 30 April 2024 or stranded away from home due to the airline's operational suspension would be offered complimentary flights, subject to seat availability.[34][35][36]

Sponsorships

Bonza currently serves as the front of shirt sponsor for Melbourne Victory FC

On 4 October 2022, Bonza announced a four-year naming rights sponsorship deal with Australian A-League Men's football club Melbourne Victory to be their front-of-shirt principal partner on both their home and away kits.[37][38]

Destinations

As of January 2024, Bonza operates 38 routes serving 21 destinations in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.[13][39][40]

State/Territory City Airport Notes
New South Wales Albury Albury Airport
Coffs Harbour Coffs Harbour Airport Terminated
Newcastle Newcastle Airport
Port Macquarie Port Macquarie Airport
Tamworth Tamworth Airport
Northern Territory Alice Springs Alice Springs Airport
Darwin Darwin International Airport
Queensland Bundaberg Bundaberg Airport
Cairns Cairns Airport
Gladstone Gladstone Airport
Gold Coast Gold Coast Airport Base
Mackay Mackay Airport
Mount Isa Mount Isa Airport
Proserpine Whitsunday Coast Airport
Rockhampton Rockhampton Airport
Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast Airport Base
Toowoomba Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport
Townsville Townsville Airport
Tasmania Launceston Launceston Airport
Victoria Melbourne / Geelong Avalon Airport
Melbourne Melbourne Airport Base
Mildura Mildura Airport

Fleet

On 30 April 2024, creditors repossessed some or all of Bonza's fleet of Boeing 737-MAX-8 aircraft.[41][42]

Bonza's fleet reached its peak of six aircraft in December 2023, by leasing two additional Canadian-registered Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from its sister airline, Flair. The leasing agreement had encountered months of delays with Australian Government regulator Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requiring Bonza to demonstrate how they would integrate the Canadian-registered aircraft and crew into their operation to ensure aviation safety leading to the delay.[43]

Bonza planned to convert these wet lease agreements into dry leases and register the aircraft in Australia. However, Bonza faced challenges in converting two short-term wet lease contracts into longer-term dry leases as the planes required recertification by government regulators. Consequently, one of the leased Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft returned to Flair in Canada in early March 2024, while the other remained parked at Sunshine Coast Airport since early March 2024. With the latter aircraft awaiting approval from CASA to operate under dry lease terms.[44][45][46]

Due to a lightning strike incident on one of Bonza's 737 Max aircraft in November 2023 leading to a shortage of aircraft to operate Bonza's scheduled routes, Bonza entered into temporary wet lease agreement with Nauru Airlines. Under the agreement Nauru Airlines operated on behalf of Bonza on some Bonza routes using Nauru Airlines B737-800 and B737-300 aircraft.[47] However in early April 2024 Nauru Airlines abruptly terminated the agreement.[48]

As of 29 April 2024, when operations ceased, the Bonza fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[49]

Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737 MAX 8 4 — 186 Reports some or all 737-8 repossessed[50]
Total 4 —

Bonza's 737 MAX 8 fleet consisted of 186 seats in an all-economy layout.[51] Seats are laid out in a 3-3 configuration.[52][53]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Baird, Lucas (12 October 2021). "New airline Bonza to launch in early 2022". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Druce, Alex (12 October 2021). "New budget airline to launch in Australia". News.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  3. ^ New airline Bonza targets half-price fares on 25 routes Sydney Morning Herald 15 February 2022
  4. ^ Crellin, Zac (12 October 2021). "Budget airline Bonza is set to bring the 'Ryanair model' to Australia". The New Daily. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  5. ^ Budget boom on the horizon? Airliner World December 2021 page 14
  6. ^ "PDF.js viewer". bonza-open-letter.tiiny.site. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  7. ^ Visontay, Elias; Transport, Elias Visontay; reporter, urban affairs (31 January 2023). "Purple budgie smugglers and Chekhov on tap as Bonza the 'bogan airline' finally takes to the skies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b Kyriakopoulos, Victoria (14 February 2022). "Bonza Airline routes: where will Australia's new airline fly?". Point Hacks. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Breaking: Bonza set to launch after gaining clearance from CASA". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Budget Australian airline Bonza certified to fly amid push to reduce cost of domestic travel". The Guardian. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Bonza on sale!". Bonza. 27 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Budget airlines Bonza launches first flight". Nine News. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ^ a b Revealed: Bonza will fly 25 routes to 16 destinations Australian Aviation 15 February 2022
  14. ^ "New Australian budget airline Bonza hopes to start flying next year". au.finance.yahoo.com. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  15. ^ Huston, John (11 October 2021). "Bonza soon to Fly high Down Under". Airways Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Flair Airlines". 777 Partners. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Bonza airline's first plane touches down: Boeing 737 MAX arrives in Australia". Traveller.com.au. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Bonza puts its Melbourne base on sale in time for Easter". Bonza. 23 February 2023.
  19. ^ Harrison, James (30 March 2023). "Bonza kicks off from its Melbourne base". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Looking for new pilots: Bonza blames cancellations on industrywide shortage". Travel Weekly. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  21. ^ Ross, Jessica; Dye, Josh (13 July 2023). "New Australian airline Bonza scraps five routes, reduces regional flights due to low demand". ABC News. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  22. ^ "An open letter to Bonza Customers". Bonza. 13 July 2023.
  23. ^ Sinclair, Amy (1 August 2023). "Bonza confirms new Gold Coast routes, flights starting at $49". Seven News. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Bonza reveals its third base as Gold Coast Airport". Bonza. 1 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Bonza to wet lease two Boeing 737s from partner Flair". Travel Bulletin. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Bonza adds Tassie to its route map". Bonza. 24 August 2023.
  27. ^ Nelson, Jake (18 September 2023). "Bonza heads to the outback with new Mount Isa route". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  28. ^ Petersen, Sharon (20 September 2023). "New Routes to Darwin and Alice with Bonza". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  29. ^ Houlbrook-Walk, Myles (1 December 2023). "Bonza cancels Darwin-Gold Coast flights for all of December, leaving customers fuming". ABC News. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Bonza spreads its wings with newly launched tailored holiday packages". Travel Weekly. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  31. ^ Jacques, Owem; Sheehan, Amy (30 April 2024). "Bonza budget airline cancels flights across the country as it considers 'viability' of business". ABC News.
  32. ^ Wind, Emily (30 April 2024). "Australia news live: raft of Bonza flights cancelled amid uncertainty; women are 'walking on eggshells, fearing for their lives', Aly says". The Guardian.
  33. ^ Ironside, Robyn (30 April 2024). "Bonza goes into voluntary administration after fleet repossessed". The Australian. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Statement on support for Bonza Customers". Qantas News Room. 30 April 2024.
  35. ^ "Statment on support for Bonza customers". Jetstar News Room. 30 April 2024.
  36. ^ "Rivals' freebie offer as Aussie budget airline faces collapse". 7NEWS. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Melbourne victory announces Bonza as principal partner". melbournevictory.com.au. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Bonza inks four season partnership with Melbourne Victory". Travel Weekly. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Bonza bound for Tamworth with flights from Melbourne, Sunshine Coast". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  40. ^ "Bonza celebrates first full year of operation". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Bonza flights in chaos after planes repossessed". Australian Financial Review. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  42. ^ McGuire, Amelia; Danckert, Sarah (30 April 2024). "Bonza board meets to determine airline's fate as all flights cancelled". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Bonza Airline cancels flights after trying to lease Canadian aircraft and crew before approval". ABC News. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Australia's Bonza expects to sort wet-lease regulatory snafu". ch-aviation. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  45. ^ "Bonza cuts flights amid trouble registering aircraft". Australian Financial Review. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  46. ^ "Australia's Bonza constrained by aircraft availability". ch-aviation. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  47. ^ "Australia's Bonza expects to sort wet-lease regulatory snafu". ch-aviation. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  48. ^ "KordaMentha runs the ruler over Bonza as its Miami PE owner wavers". Australian Financial Review. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  49. ^ "Bonza Airline Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  50. ^ https://viewfromthewing.com/australian-airline-bonza-suddenly-cancels-flights-when-all-their-planes-are-repossessed/
  51. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Bonza.
  52. ^ Jameson, Julietta (26 June 2023). "Airline review: Our verdict on Bonza? It's great". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  53. ^ Kyriakopoulos, Victoria (14 April 2023). "Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX Economy (Melbourne - Sunshine Coast)". Point Hacks. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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