Bonza Airline Discussion

The better saying would be 'Bonzer mate, bloody bewdy cobber!'

You dont go out in the bush much?
I live in Sydney, but my work for the last few years have been with the primary industries (farming actually), so yeah, pretty tough. Watch a lot of Landline to keep up to date, and trying to listen in to everyone at events like a spy to see how farmers talk.
 
It’s a term I’ll admit I’d never heard either…

737 is too big for regional. For one, it won’t fit into a lot of the airports, and those it does don’t have a big enough market. SYD/MEL to ROK, MKY, GLT, PPP, MQL, AYQ come to mind, but you’re not getting 190 people going there (except for the ultra-bargain chasers). Tiger gave it a go and failed.

Pre-VA/JQ it could have worked. They promoted a lot of growth out of OOL, MCY, HTI etc, but it’s too late to latch onto that now.
 
737 is too big for regional. For one, it won’t fit into a lot of the airports, and those it does don’t have a big enough market. SYD/MEL to ROK, MKY, GLT, PPP, MQL, AYQ come to mind, but you’re not getting 190 people going there (except for the ultra-bargain chasers). Tiger gave it a go and failed.

Pre-VA/JQ it could have worked. They promoted a lot of growth out of OOL, MCY, HTI etc, but it’s too late to latch onto that now.
Just from ABC this morning that they plan to fly to Tamworth, it would be fun if they could fly to places like Coonabarabran or Bourke, places most airlines won't touch (although the planes they are wet leasing ( ?? ) are too big). They could even do milk run? Flying public servants, farmers, and people like me who would rather holiday in Broken Hill or Lightning Ridge than OOL.
 
Just from ABC this morning that they plan to fly to Tamworth, it would be fun if they could fly to places like Coonabarabran or Bourke, places most airlines won't touch (although the planes they are wet leasing ( ?? ) are too big). They could even do milk run? Flying public servants, farmers, and people like me who would rather holiday in Broken Hill or Lightning Ridge than OOL.

I missed that. You can get a 737 into Tamworth… I can’t see finding nearly 200 people to go on it though
 
I think there is a leisure gap in the market for the model like this for the below

Australia-Bali
Australia-Fiji
Australia-Pacific Islands
Leisure Domestic OOL/CNS/MCY/ASP. However from Capitals.
Transcon

But Tamworth to Newcastle? Forget it.
 
More details. Looks like OOL based?

Virgin had just announced 3 new ‘regional’ routes from OOL this afternoon. I think they are trying to send a message...back off .

 
I think there is a leisure gap in the market for the model like this for the below

Australia-Bali
Australia-Fiji
Australia-Pacific Islands
Leisure Domestic OOL/CNS/MCY/ASP. However from Capitals.
Transcon

But Tamworth to Newcastle? Forget it.

Australia-Bali (QF, JQ, VA, OD and QG): Already congested, and a low yielding/FF redemption market prior to COVID. Also to note GA recently pulled out of the Australia-Bali market entirely, leaving only their LCC that is QG from AVV and PER.

Australia-Fiji: QF, VA, FJ and JQ. 3 of those airlines partner with each other. FJ also interlines with the other 3 carriers on this route.

Australia-Pacific Islands: Been hearing some of those markets are largely subsidised through cargo, with passenger loads pretty much being a 'bonus'.

Transcon: Market is very much deflated, and with the hardline stance of the 'Westralia' government, it's going to be a slow recovery after the rumoured April border opening date.

Leisure Domestic (OOL, MCY, etc): It's possible that 'Bonza' could look at that, but from alternate nearby airports if possible, e.g AVV-OOL or WOL-MCY. Competition on CNS-MCY with Alliance may also be a possibility too.
 
So we will have JQ, VA2 and now Bonza fighting it out at the LCC/budget end then Rex ‘apparently’ a notch above VA2 and JQ (according to Rex 😆) then QF with the premium and business market.

Busy times…

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New low-cost airline Bonza to launch in Australia next year​


Aussies desperate for a cheap holiday next year will have yet another airline to get them from A to B as the brand new Bonza prepares for launch.

Bonza describes itself as a budget airline that plans to offer low-cost fares in cities and regional centres across Australia that have been starved of regular, large-scale flights.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan, who has worked in the aviation industry for more than 20 years and has been behind some of the world’s most successful budget airlines, told news.com.au the company was about “doing things differently”.

 
They will be flying 737-800’s and apparently focussing on regional locations not the golden triangle.

Has ex-VA1 people involved….

1634018288751.jpeg
 
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More media coverage



 
Looks like they could join up with the value alliance. So I guess no Star Alliance ;)

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

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Leisure Domestic (OOL, MCY, etc): It's possible that 'Bonza' could look at that, but from alternate nearby airports if possible, e.g AVV-OOL or WOL-MCY. Competition on CNS-MCY with Alliance may also be a possibility too.

I wonder what routes that the AFF "brains trust" would consider a worthwhile? As in realistic, not completely crazy routes (although Melbourne-Margaret River might be one that some would consider "crazy", yet should happen if WA ever opens up. Perhaps Bonza, would also look at low frequency routes (1-2/week) a characteristic very common in ULCC's over the world.

I'll throw in a red herring, something like MQL-OOL might just work 1-2 times a week. Catchment of about 80,000 people within 2 hours drive, and flights to destinations like OOL either involve a 4.5 or 5.5 hr drive to ADL or MEL, or expensive add on fare via SYD, MEL or ADL. Geelong (250K people) might also be well served to the likes of AVV-OOL or AVV-MCY, as long as they don't pretend it's Melbourne.
 
200 odd people a few times a week? No chance.

Didn't say "few", I said 1-2 times (probably 1 most of the time). Not sure if it would make money, but it might lose less money than taking on say SYD/MEL - OOL with the stiff competition from VA, ZL, JQ and QF .....
 

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