Bonza has its AOC
Yield aside, what will be interesting is how long it takes them to sell the next 100,000 seats.
Based on the app download statistics they have a shade less than 150,000 Android users and likely a similar number of iOs users. We'll be generous and say 300,000 potential bookers. Some of those bookers will have families, others will not. So Bonza's potential customer pool currently likely sits at around maybe 500,000.
Back of the napkin, averaged out across all routes, Bonz will need every customer in that pool to take at least one return trip a year with them to fill 90 percent of their seats at 120 sectors a week. Not impossible on the face of it, but there will be a capacity constraint at popular times, and as others have noted, their scheduling isn't very conducive to weekend getaways.
As the Zen Master said, "We'll see."
Based on the app download statistics they have a shade less than 150,000 Android users and likely a similar number of iOs users. We'll be generous and say 300,000 potential bookers. Some of those bookers will have families, others will not. So Bonza's potential customer pool currently likely sits at around maybe 500,000.
Back of the napkin, averaged out across all routes, Bonz will need every customer in that pool to take at least one return trip a year with them to fill 90 percent of their seats at 120 sectors a week. Not impossible on the face of it, but there will be a capacity constraint at popular times, and as others have noted, their scheduling isn't very conducive to weekend getaways.
As the Zen Master said, "We'll see."
Photo on LinkedIn taken onboard the first MCY-NTL flight shows lots of empty seats and at best 60% of the seats occupied and that includes all the non-revenue pax that they take on every inaugural flight.
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It seems Flair have gobbled up another Max destined for Bonza
VH-UDV is now heading off to Canada
Only looks like VH-UMQ still to be delivered out of the 4 that were due, not sure what happened to the other 2
Not sure what to make of this move, 777 must have confidence in Flair to send metal north, but what now for Bonza, unlikely they will be able to cover their start up network with just 5 birds....
VH-UDV is now heading off to Canada
Only looks like VH-UMQ still to be delivered out of the 4 that were due, not sure what happened to the other 2
Not sure what to make of this move, 777 must have confidence in Flair to send metal north, but what now for Bonza, unlikely they will be able to cover their start up network with just 5 birds....
Likely due to Flair having had 4 aircraft repossessed, and they have a busy summer schedule approaching with those aircraft already on sale and flying allocated in the most profitable period of the year.
You might find that this ‘spare’ aircraft they have sitting around will no longer be a spare, perhaps that is now a luxury as the fleet orders with Boeing have fallen apart. The Canadian arm is under pressure now to ensure all lease payments are on time, otherwise we know what happens. 777 doesn’t appear to have injected any cash into it recently, as they only came to the party when a lessor threatened to take another 7 aircraft, then 777 stepped in and paid the bills overnight.
Commentary from Flair seems to indicate they are operating from its own reserves, which is using next months’ cash to pay last months bills. Virgin did that well.
You might find that this ‘spare’ aircraft they have sitting around will no longer be a spare, perhaps that is now a luxury as the fleet orders with Boeing have fallen apart. The Canadian arm is under pressure now to ensure all lease payments are on time, otherwise we know what happens. 777 doesn’t appear to have injected any cash into it recently, as they only came to the party when a lessor threatened to take another 7 aircraft, then 777 stepped in and paid the bills overnight.
Commentary from Flair seems to indicate they are operating from its own reserves, which is using next months’ cash to pay last months bills. Virgin did that well.
It seems Flair have gobbled up another Max destined for Bonza
VH-UDV is now heading off to Canada
Only looks like VH-UMQ still to be delivered out of the 4 that were due, not sure what happened to the other 2
Not sure what to make of this move, 777 must have confidence in Flair to send metal north, but what now for Bonza, unlikely they will be able to cover their start up network with just 5 birds....
VH-UDV is now heading off to Canada
Only looks like VH-UMQ still to be delivered out of the 4 that were due, not sure what happened to the other 2
Not sure what to make of this move, 777 must have confidence in Flair to send metal north, but what now for Bonza, unlikely they will be able to cover their start up network with just 5 birds....
MSN 44308 (meant to be VH-UQI) ferried BFI-BGR-LFBF on delivery to AIP capital on 1/4/23.
I think you are right. As this court case in Canada rolls on, more details will be revealed, the latest was they got 5 months behind in lease payments. I don't quite know what Flair is suing the lessor for? Bizarre. Likely will drop the case as they won't want financial details revealed to the market. Comments around "we couldn't afford to wet lease 4 more aircraft" when they got repossessed also highlights the cash crunch, so they took the Bonza aircraft instead. Other news out this week has Flair wet leasing one A320 for summer. Fair to say Bonza won't be getting anymore aircraft anytime soon. Flair going bust would certainly provide Bonza with a fleet boost, likely a watch this space, certainly looks like it's heading that way.
Last edited by PoppaJo; 4th Apr 2023 at 09:29.
Chairman leaves
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...11-p5czja.html
The executive chairman of fledgling budget carrier Bonza has departed three months after the airline’s first flight, as its financial backer prepares to launch new aviation projects overseas.
Former Virgin Australia executive and 777 Partners aviation investments principal Richard “Rick” Howell walked away from his role at Bonza on March 30, documents lodged with the corporate regulator show.
Former Virgin Australia executive and 777 Partners aviation investments principal Richard “Rick” Howell walked away from his role at Bonza on March 30, documents lodged with the corporate regulator show.
I think those Melbourne to FNQ routes might have legs. Might be a few missed Jetstar opportunities on a few of these, Sunny to Cairns looks like a winner (the other Cairns routes perhaps not), Avalon to Sunny another one. I think Avalon to Cairns would be an option too.
Albury and Mildura to Sunny also looks good. Very interesting if they prove successful, will hopefully change the game a bit in the regional loco space, that does rely on Bonza actually surviving but.
As they have said, trial and error is the game here. Half look pretty good, the other half look a bit ugly. The bad half will drag the whole operation however.
With the 27 routes they announced for the launch one would assume that they would have anticipated a few fails along with some wins
I really believe AB could well find themselves in the box seat
Giving the underperforming routes a couple of months to gain traction, then, if still failing, go to their plan B routes
If they end up with 25 or so viable routes, then they will move onto phase 2 in a strong position
TBH I can't see many more unserved pairs
Hobart or Launceston to Sunny Coast, though these would likely be part of their plan B rather than phase 2
Albion Park (with a terminal upgrade) possibly, Port Headland or Broome perhaps
I still believe phase 2 would be going heads up against JQ on the holiday market
I really can't imagine QF/JQ competing on ABs launch routes as most will only ever be 2-4 flights per week
I also believe AB knows exactly what to expect from QF/JQ when they have a crack and have a plan....
I really believe AB could well find themselves in the box seat
Giving the underperforming routes a couple of months to gain traction, then, if still failing, go to their plan B routes
If they end up with 25 or so viable routes, then they will move onto phase 2 in a strong position
TBH I can't see many more unserved pairs
Hobart or Launceston to Sunny Coast, though these would likely be part of their plan B rather than phase 2
Albion Park (with a terminal upgrade) possibly, Port Headland or Broome perhaps
I still believe phase 2 would be going heads up against JQ on the holiday market
I really can't imagine QF/JQ competing on ABs launch routes as most will only ever be 2-4 flights per week
I also believe AB knows exactly what to expect from QF/JQ when they have a crack and have a plan....
Darwin-Hobart non-stop is the only capital city route not currently served by any of the majors, could be coupled with Sunny Coast-Darwin & Hobart-Sunny Coast to form a triangle route operated 3x weekly each way.
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Darwin-Hobart non-stop is the only capital city route not currently served by any of the majors, could be coupled with Sunny Coast-Darwin & Hobart-Sunny Coast to form a triangle route operated 3x weekly each way.
Many days their MEL-MCY services are sold out. Hopefully, this gives them a bit of confidence to maybe go after some other routes served by JQ.
In the current market, selling 186 seats a day on routes JQ serve 3-4 times a day should be achievable.
MCY-Albury doing surprisingly well I hear. They are offering as a really cheap, quick option to visit the snow - something you can't do easily from SE QLD.
In the current market, selling 186 seats a day on routes JQ serve 3-4 times a day should be achievable.
MCY-Albury doing surprisingly well I hear. They are offering as a really cheap, quick option to visit the snow - something you can't do easily from SE QLD.