Bonza Airline Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

Yikes… Bega vintage cheese for $125 a kilo!!

 

[jase05]

Some interesting routes out of MEL

• Bundaberg – 2 flights per week
• Gladstone – 2 flights per week
• Mackay – 2 flights per week
• Mildura – 3 flights per week
• Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
• Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
• Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
• Tamworth – 2 flights per week
• Toowoomba Wellcamp – 4 flights per week

 

[Saab34]

Is that the same vs what they announced a year back?

 

[MooTime]

I thought at some stage it was Avalon to ROK?

 

[Saab34]

Having a quick look, looks like ROK-TSV down to $29.

 

[Harrison_133]

Having a quick look, looks like ROK-TSV down to $29.

Ouch… MCY-CFS also down to $29.

 

[HS-TQE]

CFS didn't seem to do well with VA and other competitors from nearby BNE, so for some reason I'm not overly surprised with the cheap MCY-CFS fares on Bonza. Don't think even 'DIY' connections (ie two tickets xx_-MCY and then MCY-CFS) from other regional Queensland ports may push the yields on this one.

 

[Saab34]

I was looking at transcon fares today for the old folks and didn’t realise how heavily priced they are currently. Bonza could most certainly do a Perth to Sunny Coast run. I reckon it would be its most successful route.

 

[Jacques Vert]

CFS didn't seem to do well with VA and other competitors from nearby BNE, so for some reason I'm not overly surprised with the cheap MCY-CFS fares on Bonza. Don't think even 'DIY' connections (ie two tickets xx_-MCY and then MCY-CFS) from other regional Queensland ports may push the yields on this one.

I live in CFS and there has been no advertising, no promotion, no launch party, no nothing! I suspect there are only about 5 people in town who know they are going to fly out of here.

A bit too early to write this route off yet; but they need a strategy to get the word out.

 

[Mattg]

I live in CFS and there has been no advertising, no promotion, no launch party, no nothing! I suspect there are only about 5 people in town who know they fly out of here.

A bit too early to write this route off yet; but they need a strategy to get the word out.

The CFS-MCY route doesn’t start for another two months. I suspect they will do some promotional stuff between now and then.

 

[Jacques Vert]

The CFS-MCY route doesn’t start for another two months. I suspect they will do some promotional stuff between now and then.

Yes; should have said "going to fly". Fixed now.

I would have thought a "coming soon" type ad would be rolled out by now.

 

[Blackadder]

Bonza make their first foray into Victoria today, with MCY-AVV-MCY

 

[Saab34]

I can see a few more Avalon routes starting. I noted a Avalon-Cairns route on the app when it launched, that was removed a few hours later. That is a route that would make sense and fits the business model. Perhaps Avalon to Perth is another. Can’t see much more aside those two however. I recall Jetstar and Tiger both operated a Avalon to Perth route about 15 years ago.

 

[jrfsp]

I can see a few more Avalon routes starting. I noted a Avalon-Cairns route on the app when it launched, that was removed a few hours later. That is a route that would make sense and fits the business model. Perhaps Avalon to Perth is another. Can’t see much more aside those two however. I recall Jetstar and Tiger both operated a Avalon to Perth route about 15 years ago.

MEL might be more likely, I don’t think AVV will be a base

 

[dajop]

MEL might be more likely, I don’t think AVV will be a base

MEL-CNS and MEL-PER are both against the non-compete philosophy that Bonza seem to be adopting. Hence the AVV suggestion makes sense , although both routes seems longer than the routes AB is going after.

They could in theory if it without a base in AVV as MCY-AVV-PER in the evening and back overnight to return to MCY in the morning. But crewing might be difficult.

 

[HS-TQE]

MEL-CNS and MEL-PER are both against the non-compete philosophy that Bonza seem to be adopting. Hence the AVV suggestion makes sense , although both routes seems longer than the routes AB is going after.

They could in theory if it without a base in AVV as MCY-AVV-PER in the evening and back overnight to return to MCY in the morning. But crewing might be difficult.

Bonza could theoretically operate a MCY-PER-AVV-PER-MCY type rotation. Would mean a overnighter/redeye from PER to MCY however.

 

[toowongman]

I don't think Bonza would like sectors over two hours, they reduce the opportunity to charge for ancillaries per hour.

 

[HS-TQE]

If Bonza does survive as a stand-alone in a few years (and somewhat avoid getting 'merged' into REX Airlines in a few years), I'd have to tip that ADL may be the 3rd base.

Theoretically it would interesting how Bonza would rotate aircraft from ADL into MEL or MCY in that scenario though (2-hop services).

 

[Saab34]

They will follow the money trail when it comes to opening new bases. Taxpayer handouts are quite common if one wants to base xx aircraft in a particular place.

Adelaide Government in conjunction with Tourism SA gave Tiger $3m to start a base there in the late 2000s. Adelaide is often handing out taxpayer cash to airlines so that base would seem likely.

Bonza had already stated that quite publicly too, ie they wanted the airports to come to them and put an offer on the table. That generally only goes so far, and the likes re Sydney/Brisbane/Perth don’t generally come to the table, as they know Bonza will need them and will come regardless (Remember Rex throwing a tantrum re BNE and high costs, well they caved in eventually). Melbourne and Dan Andrews have been throwing money around for years, no surprises there that a base appeared.

 

[AFF Editor]

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, I flew Bonza on Sunday evening and have written up a review here:

Bonza Review: Flying Australia's Newest Airline

The Bonza staff were incredibly enthusiastic - both on the ground and in the air - and this made the whole experience a lot of fun.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au