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Budget airline Bonza delays takeoff by three months

By ROBYN IRONSIDE, AVIATION WRITER
12:01AM MAY 18, 2022

New budget airline Bonza has pushed back its planned takeoff in Australia from June to September due to delays in the delivery of aircraft and regulatory approvals.

Three new Boeing 737 Max 8s are now expected to touchdown in July and August by which time the airline hopes to have the recruitment of flight and cabin crew finalised.

The first three jets will be based on the Sunshine Coast with subsequent deliveries to be based in Melbourne, as part of Bonza’s 27-route regional network.

In the “interests of transparency”, Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey broke the news of the delayed start to travellers in a website post on Wednesday. Ms Povey said Bonza wanted to keep people informed after much “positive feedback” and interest about the carrier’s plans.

“What we’re sharing right now is if people have essential travel plans for July and August, we recommend they book (with other airlines),” said Ms Povey.

“We’re hopeful that in the coming weeks we’ll have a further update about when we can go on sale, and our first flights.”

In the meantime, Ms Povey said travellers could download the Fly Bonza app, which would serve as the only option for direct bookings with the airline.

“There’s a number of reasons behind that including our ability to better communicate with customers when they’re at the airport and on board,” she said. “(The app) enables a strong sustainability focus from day one and it allows us to provide people an unrivalled customer experience in terms of food on demand on board.”

A “digital support centre” would be in place to provide assistance, rather than funnelling customers through a call centre.

“We can give speedier service, we can give more direct answers quickly, so for us it will be about improving wait times,” Ms Povey said.

“Wherever possible we want customers to be able to self-serve. Nobody wants to be on the phone for hours and part of the thinking behind the app strategy is that we find a way to improve that response time.”

A further update on when people can start to book is expected in the next four to six weeks, providing Bonza had confidence in the timing of regulatory approvals.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority was continuing to work through the complex process of Bonza’s air operator’s certificate application.

Fares are expected to start around $50 depending on the length of the flight, with passengers able to purchase food and other items such as “Bonza budgie smugglers” on-board.

Backed by US investment firm 777 Partners, Bonza wants to grow the price-sensitive leisure market in Australia, on routes not operated by other major airlines.

The low cost carrier will also be the first domestic airline to fly 737 Max 8s in Australia, with Virgin Australia due to take delivery of four of the controversial aircraft next year.

The Max model was subject to a global grounding in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in five months.

They returned to the skies in December 2020 and are now operated by 37 airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Fiji Airways which use the aircraft on services to Australia.

With the capacity for 210 passengers, questions have been raised as to whether they are too large for the routes Bonza planned to operate, such as Sunshine Coast-Coffs Harbour, and Newcastle-Whitsunday Coast.

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