Bonza Airline Discussion

What would people do in Avalon or Alice? Nothing?

If you ignore the concept of it being Melbourne’s second airport Avalon supports a population of 300,000 people (Geelong and to the west). It also is a good jump off point for the Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast (saves a bit of time and hassle vs MEL). Griffith area has a population of what? 40-50,000? Not in the same league as Great Ocean Road.
 
Exactly, they need small planes; but they have already said that they won't be doing SYD MEL BNE cos there is no point, and they said they want to create a new pie, not trying to get a piece of the existing pie, so they may not be focusing on places like OOL
I think ATR's would be a great fit. They're a rather efficient aircraft and can get into small places.

If 25% of their costs are airport fees like they claim then this could mean flights in/out of Bankstown, Archerfield and Essendon (Moorabbin?) for cheaper fees plus creating their own Golden triangle with flights from these places with other flights to regional destinations.
 
Didn't take too long to think of 42 off the top of my head, excluding mining charter airports. Not that all would suitable for leisure LCC traffic!
NSW (6): SYD, ABX, TMW, NTL, CFS, BNK
Qld (15 ): WTB, OOL, MCY, HVB, BDB(?) GLT, ROK, MKY, HTI, PPP, TSV, CNS, ISA, GOV, LRE(?)
NT (4): DRW, ASP, AYQ, KTR
WA(9): KNX, BME, LEA, PHE, GET, KTA, KGI, BQB, ZNE(?)
SA(1): ADL
VIC(3); MEL, AVV, MQL
TAS(2): HBA, LST
ACT(1): CBR
Oth(1): XCH

Although it’s unlikely & being a biased WA local, there is a community feel (massive hype new BQB JQ flights) & desire for councils to attract investment, there could be an untapped route network in WA that may evolve to be successful.

** In addition Level of Interest & people choosing to Relocate to Perth has increased, pushed housing market to brink with increased pricing **

Could 3/4 weekly flights on following be a potential untapped target market with no competitors?

Market segments prospects for QF altough a LCC would boost economical scale.

- Kalgoorlie - Busselton ( Regional City - Regional Leisure)
- Geraldton - Kalgoorlie ( 2 Regional Cities with combined population of 61,000 ) unattractive 9.5 hour road trip, business connections
- Kalgoorlie - Broome ( Regional City - Regional Leisure )
- Kalgoorlie - Adelaide (Regional City - Capital City)
- Busselton - Gold Coast ( Should OOL be their Hub )
Kalgoorlie - Gold Coast ( Should OOL be their Hub )
- Albany / Esperance - Adelaide ( 50,000 Population - Capital City ) Milk run not ideal 737..
- Broome - East Coast Capital City or Secondary Airports

Although it’s likely to see an East Coast presence to start, the above Interstate WA routes alone could be tempting enough if a LCC’s is the aim when considering road travel distance, $$$ presence across employee’s within multiple industries & likely incentives by the airports.
 
Good to see a bit of healthy competition but I don’t know if this model will work in Australia. There aren’t that many people who want to go to butt cough* nowhere for a holiday. In the US this model works because the regional model is much bigger. I’d fly them to give them a fair go.
 
I like the idea, maybe not the name. Domestic leisure will boom for 2 years as overseas travel will be expensive and difficult to insure. I will support Bonza!!
 
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I like the idea, maybe not the name. Domestic leisure will boom for 2 years as overseas travel will be expensive and difficult to insure. I will support Bonza!!
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I like the idea, maybe not the name. Domestic leisure will boom for 2 years as overseas travel will be expensive and difficult to insure. I will support Bonza!!

It’s certainly interesting and I’ll watch with popcorn to watch the VA2 v Rexy v Bonza dogfight death match. One of these three will fall. Maybe two.

I still don’t think the strategy is scaleable or very profitable which is why I’m certain they will end up on the big routes (if they survive).
 
Are there even 42 737 capable airports in Aus ?
Edit: should have read this thread yesterday as @dajop has already got this sorted out!

At a guess there's probably ten or so in each state, so:

NSW. QLD. Others
1 SYD. BNE. NLK
2 NTL. OOL. MEL
3 PQQ. MCY. AVV
4 CFS. HVB. MEB
5 BNK. BDB. YMES
6 ARM. GLT. ADL
7 OAG. ROK. YPED
8 DBO. MKY. PER
9 PKS. HTI. YPEA
10 WGA. TSV. BQB
11 TEM. CNS. KGI
12 BKH. LRE. BME
13 ABX. PPP. XCH
14 TMW. EMD. CCK
15 WOL. WTB. Mine sites in WA
16 YSRI. YBSG. NT a couple
17 BWU. YAMB. Tassie

Can't imagine there's much of a market for a B737 in many of those... 😜
 
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Good to see a bit of healthy competition but I don’t know if this model will work in Australia. There aren’t that many people who want to go to butt cough* nowhere for a holiday. In the US this model works because the regional model is much bigger. I’d fly them to give them a fair go.

and as we’ve learnt over the last 18 months, people in buttf*** nowhere certainly don’t want others in their town
 
Even on VFR travel, you won't wan to fly an airline that isn't daily out of the destination - something comes up and you're stuck in the boonies for a day or two.
 
It’s certainly interesting and I’ll watch with popcorn to watch the VA2 v Rexy v Bonza dogfight death match. One of these three will fall. Maybe two.

I still don’t think the strategy is scaleable or very profitable which is why I’m certain they will end up on the big routes (if they survive).

My tip is that they'll either by bought by PAG/Rex and merged into REX or they'll go into administration and subsequent liquidation.

Can't see Bain being interested in either of their two PE operated rivals unless if one or the other files liquidation and there are any 'valuable' scraps to pick up.

Australia has since become a PE heartland for airlines. First Virgin, then REX and now the Bonza mob.
 
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Some humourous comments.

We want/need/ will accept JQ, VA & QF.
Best of 3 worlds IMO.

All others just NFI.
Bonza.... Tell him he's dreamin'.
 

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