Bonza Airline Discussion

[Harrison_133]

DRW. Would've thought PER would be the better gamble out of MCY at least.

From the Bonza press release: “the new routes are a result of the Northern Territory Government’s Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme that aims to create more competition in the NT skies.”

Perth will probably come when Perth Airport or the WA Gov’t throw some money at them. Question is, will it be Bonza or Rex making an appearance in Perth first?

 

[jrfsp]

DRW. Would've thought PER would be the better gamble out of MCY at least.

I was thinking a seasonal winter route but no - surprisingly they are launching this route in Nov. Not much lead in time and also low season for NT tourism.

 

[dajop]

DRW. Would've thought PER would be the better gamble out of MCY at least.

Could it be utilisation or crew related? PER is 400-500 miles further than DRW. It takes 11 hrs to do a BNE-PER return, whilst DRW takes 9.

 

[PineappleSkip]

surprisingly they are launching this route in Nov. Not much lead in time and also low season for NT tourism.

Nov is a great time in DRW for 'get me outta here'!

 

[henrus]

DRW-MCY
DRW-OOL
Both red eye.

Do we know if the Flair 737s are operating all the OOL flights?

There is a big difference between the two. Bonzas own 737s have inseat power/usb and wifi network with limited entertaiment/at seat ordering whilst Flairs has none of the above (which could make a difference on a ~4 hr flight).

 

[henrus]

Could it be utilisation or crew related? PER is 400-500 miles further than DRW. It takes 11 hrs to do a BNE-PER return, whilst DRW takes 9.

Also Perth Airport isn't known for great negotiation with airlines:

Perth Airport has resorted to blocking Virgin Australia planes with a bulldozer in an attempt to get the airline to pay its debt

Perth Airport fee battle with Qantas finally resolved in court

The WA Supreme Court has ordered Perth Airport to reduce some of the prices it charged Qantas in 2018.

www.afr.com

Ever been confused flying out of Perth Airport? Why Qantas stands accused of holding WA back

WA Tourism Minister Roger Cook criticises Qantas for "dawdling" over its long-awaited plans to move its operations at Perth Airport to Terminal 1. Here's everything you need to know.

www.abc.net.au

Bonza appears to want basically next to nothing landing fees

 

[Saab34]

Do we know if the Flair 737s are operating all the OOL flights?

There is a big difference between the two. Bonzas own 737s have inseat power/usb and wifi network with limited entertaiment/at seat ordering whilst Flairs has none of the above (which could make a difference on a ~4 hr flight).

You can note the different seat maps on the Flair aircraft, no ‘Economy X’ like area at the front, 3 seats are blocked and Row 1DEF does not exist due to different configuration.

It would appear Flair aircraft are operating all OOL flights having a quick look. Bonza is clearly a superior cabin, however I think I need to do the box ticketing exercise of flying a Canadian Crewed flight down under so I will book one of these. Certainly will be a bizarre experience flying say MEL-OOL on Flair.

 

[GrahamBRI]

Given Bonza doesn’t even allow booking online

Is it still true that you can't book online? I understand you can't book direct, but it looks like you can make a booking through some agents eg Agoda seams to be selling Bonza seats?

 

[PineappleSkip]

I was able to find an AB flight on Agoda, but not on Expedia, Booking.com or Priceline.

 

[henrus]

It would appear Flair aircraft are operating all OOL flights having a quick look. Bonza is clearly a superior cabin, however I think I need to do the box ticketing exercise of flying a Canadian Crewed flight down under so I will book one of these. Certainly will be a bizarre experience flying say MEL-OOL on Flair.

Assuming everything both my schedule (and bonza's) goes to plan, I'm booked to be on the first flight out of OOL, the OOL-TSV route.

 

[jakeseven7]

From the Bonza press release: “the new routes are a result of the Northern Territory Government’s Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme that aims to create more competition in the NT skies.”

Perth will probably come when Perth Airport or the WA Gov’t throw some money at them. Question is, will it be Bonza or Rex making an appearance in Perth first?

Yea and Perth Airport will throw a conniption and assign them a gate at the train station ‘by mistake’ knowing their operating prowess and commercial acumen

Also Perth Airport isn't known for great negotiation with airlines:

Perth Airport has resorted to blocking Virgin Australia planes with a bulldozer in an attempt to get the airline to pay its debt

Perth Airport fee battle with Qantas finally resolved in court

The WA Supreme Court has ordered Perth Airport to reduce some of the prices it charged Qantas in 2018.

www.afr.com

Ever been confused flying out of Perth Airport? Why Qantas stands accused of holding WA back

WA Tourism Minister Roger Cook criticises Qantas for "dawdling" over its long-awaited plans to move its operations at Perth Airport to Terminal 1. Here's everything you need to know.

www.abc.net.au

Bonza appears to want basically next to nothing landing fees

Exactly. Useless airport operator, needs cleaning out.

 

[Saab34]

They seem to be doing very well at the moment, many flights are sold out this week and some you cannot get a seat for a week or two.

Looks set to be a busy summer for Bonza.

Would be good to see some more frequencies on some routes. Bundaberg to Melbourne seems like another winner.

 

[dajop]

They seem to be doing very well at the moment, many flights are sold out this week and some you cannot get a seat for a week or two.

Looks set to be a busy summer for Bonza.

Would be good to see some more frequencies on some routes. Bundaberg to Melbourne seems like another winner.

Bodes well, but it is of course school holidays, the challenge is sustaining services in the quieter periods.

 

[Harrison_133]

Bonza introducing package holidays via the app:

Bonza Airline

www.flybonza.com

 

[MooTime]

They seem to be doing very well at the moment, many flights are sold out this week and some you cannot get a seat for a week or two.

Looks set to be a busy summer for Bonza.

Would be good to see some more frequencies on some routes. Bundaberg to Melbourne seems like another winner.

You really think Bundy Mel would be a winner?
I can't see it, I know Bundy to some extent, but what is this 2 plane loads each way per week.

Not much of a tourist destination.
Interesting.

 

[dajop]

Need to change the paradigm with Bonza. I’d say Melbourne is an attractive destination, even though a Bundy may not be. These services are often about taking people from regional cities (such as Bundaberg, Albury, Mildura) and surrounding areas to places they want to go to (such as Melbourne or the two coasts) than the other way around.

Take a look at BDB-MEL next Wed (11th), most seats full (and that’s before running seat allocation I presume) and selling the flight for $299. I am sure that would surprise a few industry stalwarts.

 

[MooTime]

Need to change the paradigm with Bonza. I’d say Melbourne is an attractive destination, even though a Bundy may not be. These services are often about taking people from regional cities (such as Bundaberg, Albury, Mildura) and surrounding areas to places they want to go to (such as Melbourne or the two coasts) than the other way around.

Take a look at BDB-MEL next Wed (11th), most seats full (and that’s before running seat allocation I presume) and selling the flight for $299. I am sure that would surprise a few industry stalwarts.

Ok yes fair enough, good call.
Thanks.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Take a look at BDB-MEL next Wed (11th), most seats full (and that’s before running seat allocation I presume) and selling the flight for $299. I am sure that would surprise a few industry stalwarts.

IIRC not a lot of competition out of BDB. QF dominates the market with several Q400 flights a day and Linq Air is the only competitor. Next Wednesday's QF flights (via BNE) priced between $400 and $570. I suspect many of the pAX out of BDB would have a destination of MEL or SYD. Not the only regional like that.

 

[Saab34]

You really think Bundy Mel would be a winner?
I can't see it, I know Bundy to some extent, but what is this 2 plane loads each way per week.

Not much of a tourist destination.
Interesting.

Originally can’t say I thought so. But the loads appear strong. This whole month they appear full.

Melbourne to Gladstone doesn’t appear to be as popular however.

Toowoomba seems to be a bit average across all routes, I reckon replace that route with Melbourne to Whitsunday, huge demand for that route over the next few months.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Melbourne to Gladstone doesn’t appear to be as popular however.

Comparing populations (SUA, 2021 census) Gladstone (45,000) is less than half the size of Bundaberg (99,000).