Bonza Airline Discussion

[Mwenenzi]

Bonza needs a local owner 51% I think to fly foreign routes. Happy to be corrected.

Could fly AU<--->NZ as other foreign owned airlines now do/have done. Like LA, VA, QR & EK and others
AU & NZ is a single aviation market SAM.

Open aviation market licences for Single Aviation Market airlines

www.transport.govt.nz

 

[drron]

Could fly AU<--->NZ as other foreign owned airlines now do/have done. Like LA, VA, QR & EK and others
AU & NZ is a single aviation market SAM.

Open aviation market licences for Single Aviation Market airlines

www.transport.govt.nz

But NZ already flies AKL - MCY.

 

[Saab34]

They have said a few times pretty bluntly they have no desire to fly international.

 

[dajop]

They have said a few times pretty bluntly they have no desire to fly international.

No brainer really. If they don’t think they can make longer flights work like CNS-MEL or West Coast, no way international flights would work and not forgetting governments take a much bigger slice of international fares too.

The only international route that’s within their current flying distances from their 2 hubs is MCY-NOU, and that’s hardly a LCC destination!

 

[SYD]

No brainer really. If they don’t think they can make longer flights work like CNS-MEL or West Coast, no way international flights would work and not forgetting governments take a much bigger slice of international fares too.

The only international route that’s within their current flying distances from their 2 hubs is MCY-NOU, and that’s hardly a LCC destination!

MCY-DPS?….

 

[dajop]

MCY-DPS?….

Takes a lot more time to do that route than their current 2-2.5hr network. If you’re going to do that length route why not MCY-PER?

Yes, international routes can steadily grow the top line. But they can much more quickly crash the bottom line

 

[henrus]

So at time of writing it's 9 days and 8 hours until take off of the first flight and still no ticket sales. Are they also going for a guinness world record for shortest ticket sale period to launch?

Also my calendar is free on the 31st so I hope they sell public tickets on the first flight becuase I'd love to be onboard!

 

[Saab34]

The interview podcast with AA last Monday, he said his commercial and operational teams are working through the schedule, start dates, and a phased in approach with fares on sale ‘in days’.

I would have thought they might have been app, schedule ready when they got the green light. Perhaps a day or two to comb over everything, but bit strange considering they have had months if not years to get the e-commerce, ops side ready. I mean they announced the route and frequencies nearly a year ago.

Last minute strategy changes perhaps?

Would be ideal if they could get its Melbourne routes on sale at the same time, the podcast indicated that these will come on sale a few weeks later. I mean what’s the hold up?

 

[PineappleSkip]

he said his commercial and operational teams are working through the schedule, start dates, and a phased in approach with fares on sale ‘in days’.

Doesn't instil confidence. If they're unsure of scheduling presumably they are still working on their costs too!

 

[toowongman]

They're still hiring - Bonza Careers

 

[Saab34]

Head of Airport Operations, hmmm..well they start in 8 days so better find someone quick.

 

[drron]

And the latest on the first flight is that it will be invited guests and media who will be treated to Breakfast before the flight. But a chance others may be able to fly.

 

[Saab34]

Must have some issues along the lines. Launch date might be pushed back.

 

[henrus]

Must have some issues along the lines. Launch date might be pushed back.

Have you heard something about this or just your thoughts. I’m still shocked that so close to launch and not a single seat has been sold yet, maybe tomorrow morning given it’ll be 1 week till the first flight.

Regardless it looks like the apps need and update to actually add the booking system so let’s hope they’ve got them submitted to the app stores and ready to press publish.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'm looking forward to a Kath and Kim airline. They could actually be successful following a strategy others have not tried.

 

[Saab34]

Have you heard something about this or just your thoughts. I’m still shocked that so close to launch and not a single seat has been sold yet, maybe tomorrow morning given it’ll be 1 week till the first flight.

Regardless it looks like the apps need and update to actually add the booking system so let’s hope they’ve got them submitted to the app stores and ready to press publish.

A interview that they did over a week ago said over the next few days they will release fares. Been over a week now. Must be something up.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Must be something up.

Or down..

 

[dajop]

Seats will be available for sale about the same time as Rex launches its frequent flyer program.

(Although Bonza seats should be available for sale first, as I don't think they can sustain even their current level of staffing through to mid 2026).

 

[HS-TQE]

MCY-DPS?….

Might be something for AirAsia Indonesia or Batik Indonesia to explore as both are either LCCs or 'Hybrid LCCs' with J recliners. Although this won't qualify for Queensland Government's AAIF funding as DPS is largely an outbound destination (and of course taxpayers won't be pleased if they're subsidising 'bogans' to go to Bali).

At the same time, I don't think JQ or VA would be willing to rotate an aircraft in DPS to fly a point to point route twice-weekly when more money could be made through more BNE/SYD/MEL/ADL rotations.

 

[henrus]

(and of course taxpayers won't be pleased if they're subsidising 'bogans' to go to Bali).

I'm not pleased that we're subsiding a 2nd Emirates flight...

I wouldn't be surprised if Bonza is getting big $$$ from the QLD Gov. One of Bonza's routes MCY-CNS was previously operated by Alliance Airlines was previously heavily subsidised by the QLD gov.