Bonza Airline Discussion

[Hvr]

Bonza chair departs three months after first flight to pursue new ventures

Former Virgin Australia executive and 777 Partners aviation investments principal Richard Howell walked away from his role at Bonza on March 30, documents obtained by this masthead show.

www.theage.com.au

Richard “Rick” Howell walked away from his role at Bonza on March 30, ...

I wonder how this will affect the future of Bonza.

 

[Ansett]

I wonder how this will affect the future of Bonza.

The same as any hole that is left after one throws a pebble in a pond, creates a few ripples but soon smoothes over.

 

[docjames]

I wonder how this will affect the future of Bonza.

From the article @Hvr quoted

Bonza recently celebrated selling 100,000 seats (or 500 flights) across its network,

Some rubbery maths going on there - 100,000 seats @ 500 flights = 200 seats per flight……..

Or was it whichever came first??

Not sure how newsworthy the departure is - he seems to be the “start up” executive, then moves on to the next one.


Biggest question is profitability. Load factors may be (eventually, roughly) attainable as traffic figures on their exclusive routes (which will slowly be published) will tell the tale there……

 

[HS-TQE]

The person in quesiton isn't even a 'ex-Virgin Australia executive'. He's a ex-Virgin Blue executive, part of the same ex-VB mob (including the Bonza CEO) that "left" when Borghetti 'took over' and installed his own team at VB for the transition to VA 1.0.

 

[Saab34]

Interesting they are looking at starting another ‘project’ aka airline in Asia and Africa.

 

[UP4014]

If it was planned they would have announced his replacement at the same time.

 

[RB]

Port Macquarie Hastings council had a press release for yesterdays 1st flight landing
SHEILA LANDS SAFELY AT PORT MACQUARIE AIRPORT

Bonza's first passenger flight to Port Macquarie touched down safely last night with about 100 passengers disembarking to a big welcome from the Mayor of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and locals.
The 737 Max 8 dubbed 'Sheila' - one of the four aircraft in the Bonza fleet - arrived from the Sunshine Coast at 5:30 with representatives from Sunshine Coast Airport, Sunshine Coast Council and Bonza aboard.
The terminal was a sea of Purple, which is the colour that has become synonymous with Bonza's branding. On arrival the Mayor of Port Macquarie Hastings Council was gifted an honorary plaque with a miniature surfboard inside to celebrate the milestone flight from Sunshine Coast Airport.
We now look ahead to May when Bonza launches its return flights from Port Macquarie to Melbourne.

 

[Saab34]

What I have learnt from Bonza going into many of these smaller airports that typically only handle turboprop aircraft, is how under invested these airports are in infrastructure.

Bonza lands and departs, and the airport can barely cope with near 370 odd bodies coming off and going on. Sunny Coast is beyond its design, I see it won’t be until 2027 until the terminal is doubled.

On another note, they seem to be struggling with OTP. Most flights are 1-2 hours late. Not sure if dual boarding and disembarking would be a speedier option. The strange elevated flight times they went with is about the only thing that eases that, ie 2.5hr flight which the competition has for 2 hours shaves a good 30 mins off when an hour late.

 

[justinbrett]

1.5 hours delay on the Bruce Highway yesterday near Caloundra was enough to remind me never to fly out of MCY. Absolute goat track of a road.

When I got to the M1 going to the Gold Coast even at 5 pm on a Friday (same trip) it was dream in comparison.

 

[Saab34]

That’s the thing, you miss the flight due to Bruce road delays, the next flight might not be for a few days. Some are only twice a week.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Bonza seems to have done OK over the Easter weekend.

Easter boom: Airline operates close to capacity

Seems to be doing particularly well out of Melbourne, I priced (school holiday) seats in September and they were $159-$179.

Cheers skip

 

[Brissy1]

1.5 hours delay on the Bruce Highway yesterday near Caloundra was enough to remind me never to fly out of MCY. Absolute goat track of a road.

When I got to the M1 going to the Gold Coast even at 5 pm on a Friday (same trip) it was dream in comparison.

That was Friday? I was driving north to Noosa ("just" 20min delay) and M1 south was a car park for most of 50km. If going from near Nambour would have been much more than 1.5h delay. A disgrace, worst than LA, worst than BKK. (And I have to go back on that M1 on Friday but luckily not to catch a flight).
Good advice, don't plan any MCY flights around Fri afternoons unless you're local.

 

[justinbrett]

That was Friday? I was driving north to Noosa ("just" 20min delay) and M1 south was a car park for most of 50km. If going from near Nambour would have been much more than 1.5h delay. A disgrace, worst than LA, worst than BKK. (And I have to go back on that M1 on Friday but luckily not to catch a flight).
Good advice, don't plan any MCY flights around Fri afternoons unless you're local.

Yep - took me over 7 hours to drive from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast (should be 5 hours).

I passed Gympie around 2pm and hit the traffic shortly after - didn't get to resume the speed limit until I was on the Gateway Mwy. Got home around 6:30pm.

From what I understand the crash occurred around 11am, so my delay would have been much longer if I had left earlier.

 

[Saab34]

Not sure what the issue is but the first aircraft left MCY 5 hours late this morning. The 4pm arrival back into MCY is only getting in now at 830pm.

Hopefully not a trend, but been a few alarm bells in the last week or two around poor performance.

 

[Melburnian1]

That’s the thing, you miss the flight due to Bruce road delays, the next flight might not be for a few days. Some are only twice a week.

How many is Bonza carrying on odd routes such as Melbourne to Rocky and vice versa?

Sure, Queensland is unique in Oz in having close to 50 per cent not living in its capital, but Rockhampton has never been a big leisure travel destination (unlike Cairns) and while Gladstone might be considered close by in Queensland terms at just above 100km away, neither is it.

At once or twice a week, the schedule isn't likely to even be suitable for agricultural, LNG or coalminers if they were employed or contracted on a FIFO basis. Perhaps it's aiming at backpackers who then complete a Queensland holiday to Airlie Beach and/or Cairns by Queensland Rail's Tilt Train?

What exactly is Bonza's target market on a route like this?

I reckon this airline will fold within five years. Will it be forced to ditch its ridiculous 'app only' booking method (unless you want to go to a travel agent, who probably has better things to do with his or her time given the low commission (if any) on domestic flights)?

 

[HS-TQE]

How many is Bonza carrying on odd routes such as Melbourne to Rocky and vice versa?

Not sure, but there has been reports that point-to-point Intra-Queensland hasn't been doing as well as most of the ex-MCY routes.

I reckon this airline will fold within five years. Will it be forced to ditch its ridiculous 'app only' booking method (unless you want to go to a travel agent, who probably has better things to do with his or her time given the low commission (if any) on domestic flights)?

I'm still tipping that there will be at least 'merger/takeover' talks between REX and Bonza. The question is which Private Equity firm will be stumping up the funds as 'acquiring party' REX's PAG or Bonza's 777?

I can't see a 'merger of equals' for Rex/Bonza, and I don't see VA's Bain and/or any potential future post-IPO part shareholders of VA getting involved/distracted into throwing money in the REX(Jet) and Bonza dramas.

 

[Saab34]

I recall Tiger and Jetstar both have withdrawn from Rockhampton after trying a whole range of routes.

I guess it all depends how long they persist with the ‘dead weight’ and move those resources to more profitable opportunities. Intra QLD and Intra NSW/SEQ will be challenging. Cairns to Sunshine Coast is likely a good choice. I see the schedule only goes to Oct 31.

The boom market at the moment is from Cold to Warm, ie VIC to QLD. Sunshine Coast market goes into quiet mode now, meanwhile Cairns, FNQ goes into high season. Even Perth is a high fare market right now, just sitting, waiting for someone to tap it.

 

[Muppet501st]

Flew out of ROK last Thursday and newish terminal was nearly at capacity, and was surprised at how many pax were heading to CNS on AB! Good on them

 

[Saab34]

Plenty of $29/$39/$49 fares today for intra QLD. Seat maps look a tad low.

MCY-CNS-MCY looks like will go out 80-90%.

 

[HS-TQE]

As others mentioned in the past MCY-PER is a large potential market, especially if PER/PAPL and the Western Australia Government are able to be talked into 'coming to the party' to fund a future 3rd Bonza base for any future expansion plans beyond the inevitable adjustment/right-sizing of the current network.