New 'Bonza' LCC launches middle 2022 with B737 MAX
Well sounds like its on the up then, good for them. But yeah last week esp south east coast was a nightmare for OTP for everyone I think. Lots of factors from breakdowns to crew to weather for just about all operators. Spring is looking quite miserable for weather up the East coast, fill the fuel up and stay safe...
This whole model is beyond quirky, I'm yet to see the evil plan they have behind the scenes to actually make money. Still the only thing that makes any sense is they merge into a bigger operator with slots for the Max.
This whole model is beyond quirky, I'm yet to see the evil plan they have behind the scenes to actually make money. Still the only thing that makes any sense is they merge into a bigger operator with slots for the Max.
Bare bones fare allows 7kg carry on
Then the fare more than doubles if you take the next bundle
Looks like they are now flying more to primary Cities
Likely making a bit on the side from hotel and hire car bookings
It's not always about making money per seat
Point in case QFFP and Velocity make more that QF or VA
Hmm, not sure competing with 3 airlines that don't charge for carry-on by charging $29-$64 per item in the overhead will fly in Australia. That airline will fail once it hits a non sustainable level, usually when it can't make cash off forward bookings and finds itself in a revenue hole, its too lean to make money, common thing around the world for the last 40 years. To run such airlines you have to keep pumping capital in or you can never procure new fleet.
I totally agree that loyalty programs definitely bolster the income, but your customers need to be loyal, that requires some form of benefit for them, or just stupid to keep paying fees.
I totally agree that loyalty programs definitely bolster the income, but your customers need to be loyal, that requires some form of benefit for them, or just stupid to keep paying fees.
A bit of movement at the station; Shazza is back up at the southern end of the RPT apron.
A question for the AOC gurus. Why is this AOC application such an extended process?
Presumably, Bonza will have people on their team for whom dealing with CASA is not their first rodeo. It begs the question, just how “innovative” is this Bonza application?
Presumably, Bonza will have people on their team for whom dealing with CASA is not their first rodeo. It begs the question, just how “innovative” is this Bonza application?
Reading back through the thread it seams more so a lack of ensuring key personnel are available for the process. As for assuming that the management crew are not "on their first rodeo", unfortunately that's one of the normal issues with new starts being headed by people that are not familiar with or have not had regulatory dealings in the past, ie you could be a great pilot, but setting up and running a large jet transport operation is not really related to flying the things on daily basis. If you are not from the industry at all and don't have some form of local specialist to help you even worse.
Ever tried to get a medical renewed? Even if all the documents and protocols are perfect its still going to take CASA many months of assuring themselves that there will be no blow-back if the operation is approved.
I'd hate to say it, but Rex got their jets all up and running pretty fast and on schedule even given covid delays. That shows its more knowing the lay of the land than just CASA delays. And yes AvMed is a shambles at the moment. Pilots with medical restrictions are being indefinitely extended making a joke out of the restrictions. Oh we can only give you 6 month or 1 year medicals but now we're just indefinitely extending you, and guess what no-one is dropping dead or having medical episodes. Time to just scrap the whole thing and let medical experts certify pilots fit rather than a bureaucracy when there's too many variables for charts and tables to decide.
I have it on good authority that the issues have primarily been around certain operation policies eg flight ops. The way it works is concerns are raised and then addressed where needed. I've heard the flight ops has been sorted and they're testing flights with inspectors at moment. I'd say it'll be signed off late this year or early next year. Final ducks being lined up. Hence the renewed website.
The model was essentially to have a few dozen people on the Bonza payroll at HQ. Everyone else is working for someone else. I’m glad CASA said no dice. They then got caught out with nobody on the books with Flight Ops creds.
When you start doing stuff like that the process gets much harder as more questions will be asked and more things pulled apart. Hence the ‘big list’ of things that they have been told to clean up. Now it appears they have cycled through all that shit in the last half and are on the home run. However still a long way to go. I just hope the tech crews are not treated like a third wheel should it continue to drag on.
I expect that it went a bit pear shaped when CASA wrote to the applicant for the AOC and asked for:
With so many people employed by someone other than the holder of the AOC authorising the proposed Bonza operations, that's gonna be a very complicated 'tabular legend'. And producing that is the 'easy' bit. Then CASA's gonna want to be shown how the AOC holder monitors and secures compliance with the contractual agreement(s).
[A] tabular legend, showing how and where the actions called up under each applicable provision of the civil aviation legislation germane to the conduct of operations ... are effectively addressed in the terms of the contractual agreement(s).

Their second jet (Ferret?) has arrived, parked at the southern end of the GA apron with Shazza.
Last edited by MickG0105; 30th Oct 2022 at 07:24. Reason: Added photo
Well LB you would think with all those requirements to be met,through in Christmas and Easter 2023 an AOC is at least a year away.That’s the way the bureaucrats work in this country.😆