September has been firmed up as a definite, could even been earlier. I’ve only seen a rudder painted in Bonza colors. Let’s see if they can get the AOC, training and do proving compliance by September.

September of what year?

Allow at least 6-8 weeks aircraft online and crews ready to go before the proving flight. They don’t have either of those yet, the latter takes a few months to get organised. History has shown that many fail the proving flight, Tiger being the only operation who didn’t on the first attempt. Magnifying glasses will be out in force, so could drag on (and on, and on).

Who is the Chief Pilot? Is it our friend from out west?
Will need some serious experience behind this to get it going, something which Tiger had in Flight Ops on kickoff. Otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

Bonza's first 737-M8 is currently in San Antonio TX, don't know why, probably crew training, the aircraft was originally destined for LOT Polish Airlines as SP-LVE but was not taken up, currently carrying Boeing test reg N5515X. Tail still painted in LOT livery with a Bonza Rudder.

Paint
 

From jetphotos

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c0a27e7846.jpg

Allstralia?! This crowd have turned the Jingoism dial on Marketing-Spiel-o-matic 2000 to 11.

Little bit of paintwork left to do
Winglets still LOT
Perhaps giving all fingers fingernails on the tail :rolleyes:

Considering the issues Rex is said to be having filling 737s on trunk routes what hope do they have filling these on bypass routes with a similar lack of promotion. Add to that lease costs of new aircraft and high fuel prices it seems like someone is just trying to blow money on something. Then you have the issues with the Max being back in the news for all the wrong reasons. The pockets will have to be very deep to sustain this for any length of time.

I'd disagree... I think Bonza have been doing a good job on social media and in the press... much much better than Rex. I reckon if you did a survey more people would be aware of Bonza than Rex.

Hmm, I highly doubt that. Maybe among friends of pilots, but the general public have no idea what Bonza is, and a few know who Rex are, more so in the regional market. Have not seen anything in the press from Bonza apart from the odd interest piece and pretty much nothing on social media I frequent. Only Airlines I see/hear regularly in the mass media are Q, VA and J*. Maybe they are more visible in Queensland, but NSW, Vic, SA and Tas the most I see on this mob is on PPRUNE.

I really hope they have very very very deep pockets.

Well that certainly is Strayan spirit of having a crack.

A market disrupter?

Love the Allstraya tag it is catchy.

Will it work? As we have all said it really depends on many factors, Straya certainly can handle a genuine LCC like when Tiger WAS gaining traction.

Qantas group and Virgin are not really in the headlines for the right reasons, could this be the time? Rex well they just don’t seem to have the ball on the marketing, I reckon Bonza will hit the shores running.

Oh and the Max? I do not think the public will realise or even care, look at SQ and its Max, very busy!

The problem is only partly the public perception of the type, the other issue is that a few more incidents or a repeat accident and the type is history. Might be a while before you can get hands on a replacement type.

I agree, equipping your fleet with the Max is a high risk strategy, another incident anywhere in the world, even if unrelated could be troublesome for peoples willingness to get on the thing.

Or it gets grounded again by the regulator!

But what are the alternatives? The Max was available, for obvious reasons, compared to the long wait for a 320. Mind you for their stated routes an E170 would have been better. Maybe even a Lear 23.

From what I understand there has already been 22 incidents regarding flight controls on the Max since it started ops again and a number involving MCAS. If its the same issue again I cant see it being long before another accident occurs.

There's also talk of the Max 10 being cancelled if it isn't 'fast tracked' to avoid new rules regarding crew alerting, which the Max series does not comply with, and US congress wanting to probe Boeing again regarding the Max recertification.

I actually hope the opposite.
The purpose of "deep pockets" is to hang in there till you get a sustainable business. REX needs deep pockets- they are operating what COULD be a profitable operation if they can stay as at least it's a market that exists.
The longer BONZA hangs around throwing money at a just ridiculous business model, poluting actually sustainable regional routes, the worse for everybody.

WHICH market? Sunny coast-Albury?


Yes, but Tiger was offering cheap fares between major population centers, BONZKERS isn't.

,Time will tell, but no amount of marketing fills aircraft from ine place where no-one lives to another place where no-one lives.

Wouldn't it be great, if it might be sustainable ? More jobs for boys and girls that might be out of work still ? How about some positives :)