Bonza Airline Discussion

[Saab34]

It seems unrealistic that this can get up and running in 5 weeks. Even more challenging would be to try and fill seats with such short lead time. Tiger started selling flights 8 months before they started.

Seems all too rushed to me. I guess CASA has the final say. Certainly is no assurance that the whole thing will even get off the ground. We need to wait and see I guess. Depends how many cracks/gaps in processes they find.

 

[henrus]

Certainly is no assurance that the whole thing will even get off the ground.

It's a lot more serious than many airlines given they've now got an aircraft on the ground in Australia.

Bonza have stated they're targeting ~$50 per hour of flying time fares If it really is ~$50 per hour of flying time then some really cheap introduction fares will help fill seats quickly.

 

[dajop]

then some really cheap introduction fares will help fill seats quickly.

If they can launch by 17 Sep they’d probably pick up some of the Vic/Qld school holidays traffic.

 

[iRobbo]

ATC rarely have access to the ICAO document with approved callsigns so they just read from the flight plan and ask the pilot to clarify if necessary - nobody is checking that it's approved.

Easy access to the ICAO doc on ATC console, used whenever an odd call sign pops up. Checks are done ensuring that it is approved, if it’s not, a safety report will go in. No-one should be using a wannabe callsign in the remarks section.
Bonza has a 3 letter abbreviation approved 5th Aug

 

[Saab34]

I see the 737 on the Sunny coast is all taped up. Advertising for pilots online also, seems like it’s going to be delayed until I assume November.

Does not appear it will be talking off in 3-4 weeks. Seems a tad tight to fill a full 737 also in such a short timeframe, especially from the smaller regional cities, I would guess most people would have already booked at least a month ahead with someone else.

 

[dajop]

, I would guess most people would have already booked at least a month ahead with someone else.

Whilst I don't disagree that month is a tad tight, Bonza aren't going after the market who are already booking with someone else.

Price MQL-OOL/MCY or ABX-OOL/MCY. By the time you throw in a $200 QF Link flight each way you're looking at probably $600 return to get to SE Qld. Bonza are going after a market who are simply not making these trips because it's too expensive, or if they are, they're driving to the nearest capital city.

 

[jakeseven7]

Suppose they are just happy their MAX made it without crashing into the ocean

 

[PineappleSkip]

Flew into MCY this morning, taxied right past the plane with its tape. MCY is a bit of an achilles heel, an airport that has well and truly outgrown its terminal.

cheers skip.

 

[dairyfloss]

Flew into MCY this morning, taxied right past the plane with its tape. MCY is a bit of an achilles heel, an airport that has well and truly outgrown its terminal.

cheers skip.
View attachment 289477

Please excuse my ignorance here, but what’s the tape for? Is it to make it easier to identify unwanted entry, or is it something much simpler, like keeping coughroaches out while it sits there a while?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

We can't see if they have taped the other side as well.
Maybe its a security measure, as if the tape is broken, it means someone has gained entry to the aircraft.
Would be someone who has a tap card to open locked gates at the airport though.
Those id cards that pilots and crew and ground staff and contractors, must have a bar code/fob/chip that will open locked doors at airports, but would only open certain doors as the needs arise.
AFP staff would probably have access to all areas of the airport, plus airport managment.

 

[henrus]

Please excuse my ignorance here, but what’s the tape for? Is it to make it easier to identify unwanted entry, or is it something much simpler, like keeping coughroaches out while it sits there a while?

It's a storage thing. The whole idea is to protect the airframe, things like inlets (the cause of the max crashes), doors etc get covered to prevent dirt and dust getting in.

You see this with long term aircraft (just look on google for photos of aircraft storage during covid). Given there are stairs at the door I assume they've probably left one door unsealed.

Regardless Bonza must be paying MCY airport for parking. At the published rate it's $568 per day to park a 737max8 at MCY airport although bonza must be getting a sizable discount on those rates.

 

[Chicken]

How much did it cost them to paint the luggage cart?

 

[AIRwin]

She's Shazza!

https://m.facebook.com/flybonza/videos/aussies-sure-love-a-nickname-and-you-gave-us-loads-of-suggestions-when-we-asked-/490555739568651/

 

[Saab34]

Another site claims the cabin is seat less, to be installed locally.

 

[HS-TQE]

I do wonder where are they going to fly the a/c to get the cabin refit, TSV?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Shazza, Dazza, Bazza and Agape.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

She's Shazza!

https://m.facebook.com/flybonza/videos/aussies-sure-love-a-nickname-and-you-gave-us-loads-of-suggestions-when-we-asked-/490555739568651/

Very bogan name for a plane.
Next will be nambed Bazza?
And a third one, maybe Kazza...

 

[Saab34]

Still planning a September launch? Whaaaaat?

Exclusive: Bonza closes in on launch with new 737

Australian Aviation can reveal the business quietly registered its second Boeing narrowbody, VH-UIK, on Friday. The news suggests the airline could start commercial operations soon.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[HS-TQE]

The bloke that replaced McInally (ex-Virgin Blue) - Michael Young - seems to actually have survived Borghetti's axe over most of the VB staff during the VB to VA 1.0 akeover in 2011.

He left VA 1.0 not long after at the end of 2012 per his Linkedin profile, thus it seems his experience was mostly with VB (as per most of the Bonza management) rather than VA 1.0.
Interestingly he went to Tiger Airways after leaving VA 1.0, then left after the VA 1.0 takeover of that carrier.

 

[HS-TQE]

Well the proposed September launch is close to approaching, and it's unlikely that Bonza are anywhere near close to successfully achieving a AOC, this would only leave them an late October date, as it's unlikely that CASA will be present to see them perform their exams for an AOC in November or December as they 'knock off' for the year around that time.

This would leave Bonza with either a late January or February launch if they miss the potential late October date for successfully receiving their AOC.