Bonza Airline Discussion

[henrus]

Far out they must be serious... already launched a website: Bonza-Affordable airfares for all Australians

There are a few things that the media has pointed out but it's nice they make it crystal clear on their website.

- They will not be operating international flights.
- The head office will be located in a regional area.
- They will be flying using "brand new 737-8 aircraft" - intresting given the media said they were max aircraft.

Not that it means much but the domain was registered in New South Wales.

 

[aikman]

CBR-HBA/ADL/MEL/OOL/MCY has no LCC competition and I imagine has enough demand.

 

[HS-TQE]

Far out they must be serious... already launched a website: Bonza-Affordable airfares for all Australians

There are a few things that the media has pointed out but it's nice they make it crystal clear on their website.

- They will not be operating international flights.
- The head office will be located in a regional area.
- They will be flying using "brand new 737-8 aircraft" - intresting given the media said they were max aircraft.

Not that it means much but the domain was registered in New South Wales.

I guess we can rule out the Gold Coast as a HQ location then.

Considering the operation is owned and operated by another PE company, I'm sure they'll have access to lessors for the MAX-8 aircraft.

 

[henrus]

I guess we can rule out the Gold Coast as a HQ location then.

Given some of the Bonza staff on LinkedIn are listed as Coffs Harbour that could be a possibility.

Considering the operation is owned and operated by another PE company, I'm sure they'll have access to lessors for the MAX-8 aircraft.

Oh yes I don't doubt that they'll get access to MAX aircraft but I think it's interesting on their website they chose to list them as 737-8 aircraft, to me that implies they may feel the AU public could still recognise the MAX aircraft as "unsafe" otherwise why wouldn't you list them as 737 MAX 8's.

 

[Saab34]

Virgin is also advertising its 737 Max as ‘The Dash 8’ or the ‘Dash 10’ it is now.

 

[henrus]

Virgin is also advertising its 737 Max as ‘The Dash 8’ or the ‘Dash 10’ it is now.

Virgin Australia is no longer getting any 737-8 MAX's so that photo would be old (almost 10 months old).

I also haven't heard of them being called "Dash 10" as VA's website calls them either "B737 MAX 10" or "MAX 10", also I'd hope they're not getting Dash 8's (the Q400 variant ) because they wouldn't be so fun for the flights to/from PER.

Virgin Australia Group restructures Boeing 737 MAX order

09 December 2020: Virgin Australia Group has announced it has reached an agreement with Boeing to restructure its B737 MAX order and delivery schedule.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

Anyway, back on Bonza. Does anybody know hold long it takes to get an IATA/ICAO code and what do you think their IATA/ICAO codes should be? My first thought was BZ but that's taken but BOZ for the ICAO seems ok.

Another weird thought... Do they have an ABN/ACN. On their website they list themselves as "Bonza Aviation Pty Ltd". A search for that business name reveals its based in Urunga, a small town about 24km south of Coffs Harbour. Even more confusing is that their ABN/ACN was canceled on the 1st of October (11 days ago).

Current details for ABN 91 614 651 222 | ABN Lookup

abr.business.gov.au

Edit : Scrap the above, it seems that they've deregistered their initial Bonza Aviation Pty Ltd and have started a new company called the exact same thing. This new company has a registered address in Sydney from the 1st of September.

 

[HS-TQE]

Has ex-VA1 people involved….

The CEO is pretty critical of VA…. He will know all their secrets I guess.

The CEO is a former executive from the largely financially successful Virgin Blue back when it was owned by Toll and Branson.
He woud not be from VA1. Both are completely different companies.

The CEO left Virgin Blue before SQ/EY/NZ and Borghetti/Hogan/Norris took over.
He'd have no idea on the internal running of VA1, and would be drawing from his knowledge that he acquired from the media like most of us.

 

[jakeseven7]

The CEO is a former executive from the largely financially successful Virgin Blue back when it was owned by Toll and Branson.
He woud not be from VA1. Both are completely different companies.

The CEO left Virgin Blue before SQ/EY/NZ and Borghetti/Hogan/Norris took over.
He'd have no idea on the internal running of VA1, and would be drawing from his knowledge that he acquired from the media like most of us.

Given who he golfs with (well used to, until
the announcement) I don’t think that is true at all

 

[HS-TQE]

Given who he golfs with (well used to, until
the announcement) I don’t think that is true at all

Jordan was CCO of Cebu Pacific for 3 years after he left Virgin Blue. Also had a stint as MD of and played a role in converting FlyArystan in Kazahakstan to a LCC.

His parent company also has stakes in ULCC Flair in Canada.

 

[HS-TQE]

Further to the last post. Jordan also played a role in getting LCC Cebu Pacific to #1 in the Philippine domestic market, and where they still hold the lead today.

Not a bad record for a person that's largely worked with LCCs.

Bonza! New independent, low-cost Aussie airline prepares for take-off in early 2022

A new airline that aims to fill the void left behind by the now-defunct Tigerair in Australia is planning to launch early next year.

www.travelweekly.com.au

 

[HS-TQE]

The other ex-Virgin Blue alumni and Bonzai executive, Rick Howell, did work with John Borghetti as a Senior Captain during the transition phase from Virgin Blue to VA1, eventually leaving Virgin Blue for Cebu Pacific in 2012.

Mr Rick Howell | Aviation Outlook Asia

 

[jonboixxx]

Anyway, back on Bonza. Does anybody know hold long it takes to get an IATA/ICAO code and what do you think their IATA/ICAO codes should be? My first thought was BZ but that's taken but BOZ for the ICAO seems ok.

Unfortunately BO is taken as well.

 

[AIRwin]

DJ, JG, O7, TT or YM?

 

[henrus]

DJ, O7 or TT?

Out of those three TT is the only one free. TT also works in nicely with their "airline for tradies and teachers" comment.

Amazingly DJ has been snapped up by a freight operator in Europe (they switched from S6) and O7 is used by a helicopter operator in Nigeria.

 

[dajop]

If it was based in OOL, the IATA code 4X doesn't seem to be used by anyone. And might fit with the target market too.

 

[jakeseven7]

Jordan was CCO of Cebu Pacific for 3 years after he left Virgin Blue. Also had a stint as MD of and played a role in converting FlyArystan in Kazahakstan to a LCC.

His parent company also has stakes in ULCC Flair in Canada.

Yes this is all fact too

 

[RooFlyer]

CEO of Bonza was on ABC Radio this morning. He was asked several times if the airline would fly into Tasmania. Avoided it each time.

He did say that just *yesterday* the airline wrote to 42 airports around Australia asking if they would like to come “partners" with Bonza. That is, if they would give them a discount on the landing fees etc as the CEO said airport costs were 25% of their total costs.

also said that they expect to have their schedule out by the end of the year.

we’ll see on both counts.

 

[jase05]

A lot of knockers out there it seems.
Chances of me flying with them are zero but good luck to them in their endeavours and they might just be able to carve out a niche market

 

[moa999]

the airline wrote to 42 airports around Australia asking if they would like to come “partners" with Bonza.

Are there even 42 737 capable airports in Aus ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Are there even 42 737 capable airports in Aus ?

Ah, but for those that can't, and partner, they write to Federal and State govts saying "pay for our airport upgrade and boost the economy, tourism etc". Worked for Hobart airport upgrade to take 777s.