Bonza
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| Founded | October 2021 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 31 January 2023 | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | 6 | ||||||
| Destinations | 21 | ||||||
| Parent company | 777 Partners | ||||||
| Headquarters | Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia | ||||||
| Key people | Tim Jordan (Founder & CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www.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.
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:
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]
Sponsorships
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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.[31][32]
Destinations
As of January 2024, Bonza operates 38 routes serving 21 destinations in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.[13][33][34]
Fleet
As of December 2023[update], the Bonza fleet consists of the following aircraft:[35]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 6 | — | 186 | |
| Total | 6 | — | ||
Bonza's 737 MAX 8 fleet consists of 186 seats in an all-economy layout.[36] Seats are laid out in a 3-3 configuration.[37][38]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Druce, Alex (12 October 2021). "New budget airline to launch in Australia". News.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ New airline Bonza targets half-price fares on 25 routes Sydney Morning Herald 15 February 2022
- ^ Crellin, Zac (12 October 2021). "Budget airline Bonza is set to bring the 'Ryanair model' to Australia". The New Daily. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Budget boom on the horizon? Airliner World December 2021 page 14
- ^ "PDF.js viewer". bonza-open-letter.tiiny.site. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Kyriakopoulos, Victoria (14 February 2022). "Bonza Airline routes: where will Australia's new airline fly?". Point Hacks. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Breaking: Bonza set to launch after gaining clearance from CASA". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Budget Australian airline Bonza certified to fly amid push to reduce cost of domestic travel". The Guardian. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Bonza on sale!". Bonza. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Budget airlines Bonza launches first flight". Nine News. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ a b Revealed: Bonza will fly 25 routes to 16 destinations Australian Aviation 15 February 2022
- ^ "New Australian budget airline Bonza hopes to start flying next year". au.finance.yahoo.com. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Flair Airlines". 777 Partners. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Bonza airline's first plane touches down: Boeing 737 MAX arrives in Australia". Traveller.com.au. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Bonza puts its Melbourne base on sale in time for Easter". Bonza. 23 February 2023.
- ^ Harrison, James (30 March 2023). "Bonza kicks off from its Melbourne base". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Looking for new pilots: Bonza blames cancellations on industrywide shortage". Travel Weekly. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "An open letter to Bonza Customers". Bonza. 13 July 2023.
- ^ Sinclair, Amy (1 August 2023). "Bonza confirms new Gold Coast routes, flights starting at $49". Seven News. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Bonza reveals its third base as Gold Coast Airport". Bonza. 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Bonza to wet lease two Boeing 737s from partner Flair". Travel Bulletin. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Bonza adds Tassie to its route map". Bonza. 24 August 2023.
- ^ Nelson, Jake (18 September 2023). "Bonza heads to the outback with new Mount Isa route". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Petersen, Sharon (20 September 2023). "New Routes to Darwin and Alice with Bonza". Airline Ratings. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bonza spreads its wings with newly launched tailored holiday packages". Travel Weekly. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Melbourne victory announces Bonza as principal partner". melbournevictory.com.au. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Bonza inks four season partnership with Melbourne Victory". Travel Weekly. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Bonza bound for Tamworth with flights from Melbourne, Sunshine Coast". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Bonza celebrates first full year of operation". Australian Aviation. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Bonza Airline Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Bonza.
- ^ Jameson, Julietta (26 June 2023). "Airline review: Our verdict on Bonza? It's great". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Kyriakopoulos, Victoria (14 April 2023). "Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX Economy (Melbourne - Sunshine Coast)". Point Hacks. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
External links
- Official website
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