Bonza Airline Discussion

[Chicken]

Who would be the 'operating' carrier? QF, VA, JQ and ZL are definitely out.

Can't see Alliance, Cobham or Air North being involved and/or keeping quiet (over being trained on the MAX) if they were the wet lease operators..

From AFR:

the new airline will fly Boeing 737-8 jets leased from linchpin investor 777 Partners, and forgo the lucrative “golden triangle” routes between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne for underserved leisure locations in hopes of stimulating new demand.

 

[Saab34]

CASA would still bring out the magnifying glass even for a wet lease.

This isn’t taking off in April. CASA pretty much does bugger all over Dec and Jan. When the servants return, that’s 2 months to run before April. So they are getting a AOC in 2 months? Forget it.

For a new operator, new type, no offshoots CASA can go review, we are talking 12-24 months

 

[AussieJasmine]

Sooooo, a mid-winter launch? Pretty brave for a leisure carrier. Good for routes into CNS, DRW, LEA or BME. Pretty much sucks for everywhere else, and CNS is already a big focus city for JQ.

If they really want to press ahead it'd be better to push it back to the end of 2022, so they'll launching into summer, and also will likely have overseas visitors back on the ground as well. At least them they're giving themselves a fighting chance, but they really, really should look hard at the model.

 

[henrus]

The Bonza CEO/Founder spoke to CAPA recently, full 30 min interview here:

Exclusive interview with new Australian LCC Bonza | CAPA TV

but here are the things I found interesting, I'd take some things with a grain of salt but still it's interesting to hear:

• 186 seats [by my estimation that'd be 32 rows of seats putting it at about 29" of seat pitch]
• They're looking to try and achieve a 12 hour utilisation time
• They suggest they'd be operating markets 2,3,4 times per week
• If they can get approval/slots then some flights will be to/from SYD/MEL/BNE (but not really between them)
• More than half the routes they've identified are currently not serviced by any other carrier and where there is overlap there are generally only small business carriers already existing (I guess watch out Rex SAAB routes, fly corporate and FlyPelican)
• Ideally they'd like flights to be 1-2 hours long
• Apparently 45 of the 46 airports Bonza has contacted have said they'd be interested in service
• None of their aircraft are in a paint shop yet
• Claim to be in discussions with the NSW and QLD govs about the head office location
• Indicates the AOC process will be quicker because of the brand new aircraft

 

[AIRwin]

186 seats [by my estimation that'd be 32 rows of seats putting it at about 29" of seat pitch]

6 x 31 rows all Economy?

 

[henrus]

6 x 31 rows all Economy?

Ah yes good pickup, typo on my part.

 

[jakeseven7]

The Bonza CEO/Founder spoke to CAPA recently, full 30 min interview here:

Exclusive interview with new Australian LCC Bonza | CAPA TV

but here are the things I found interesting, I'd take some things with a grain of salt but still it's interesting to hear:

• 186 seats [by my estimation that'd be 32 rows of seats putting it at about 29" of seat pitch]
• They're looking to try and achieve a 12 hour utilisation time
• They suggest they'd be operating markets 2,3,4 times per week
• If they can get approval/slots then some flights will be to/from SYD/MEL/BNE (but not really between them)
• More than half the routes they've identified are currently not serviced by any other carrier and where there is overlap there are generally only small business carriers already existing (I guess watch out Rex SAAB routes, fly corporate and FlyPelican)
• Ideally they'd like flights to be 1-2 hours long
• Apparently 45 of the 46 airports Bonza has contacted have said they'd be interested in service
• None of their aircraft are in a paint shop yet
• Claim to be in discussions with the NSW and QLD govs about the head office location
• Indicates the AOC process will be quicker because of the brand new aircraft

Thank you for taking the time to post such a wonderful summary!

What is interesting is that a lot of these regional routes carry pax that connect onward to other services. I’ve seen quotes that QFLink for example has onward connections for something like 40% or more of its passengers.

I wonder on the routes where they are up against a QFLink or a Rexy who would go through the hassle of trying to combine 2 carriers with no interline agreements… ugh…

Also I feel nervous about heavy planes flying infrequently… like 3 to 4 times a week to a destination, one flight gets cancelled and you are stuck there an extra 3 days potentially… I mean we had big issues with VA2 cancelling Tassie flights at the drop of a hat for work - it was one of the reasons we stopped using them.

 

[dajop]

What is interesting is that a lot of these regional routes carry pax that connect onward to other services. I’ve seen quotes that QFLink for example has onward connections for something like 40% or more of its passengers.

I wonder if some of the pricing you see on some regional routes (eye watering) is a real constraint on point to point demand though, and people take alternative means of transport (drive), which aren’t feasible for longer distances (involving connections). Or they are going after some of the connections as non-stops?

Be interesting to see how it pans out. I think the scepticism here is not unwarranted, but if it works it will be good for travellers and travel associated businesses in the ports they serve.

 

[Daver6]

The Bonza CEO/Founder spoke to CAPA recently, full 30 min interview here:

Exclusive interview with new Australian LCC Bonza | CAPA TV

but here are the things I found interesting, I'd take some things with a grain of salt but still it's interesting to hear:

• 186 seats [by my estimation that'd be 32 rows of seats putting it at about 29" of seat pitch]
• They're looking to try and achieve a 12 hour utilisation time
• They suggest they'd be operating markets 2,3,4 times per week
• If they can get approval/slots then some flights will be to/from SYD/MEL/BNE (but not really between them)
• More than half the routes they've identified are currently not serviced by any other carrier and where there is overlap there are generally only small business carriers already existing (I guess watch out Rex SAAB routes, fly corporate and FlyPelican)
• Ideally they'd like flights to be 1-2 hours long
• Apparently 45 of the 46 airports Bonza has contacted have said they'd be interested in service
• None of their aircraft are in a paint shop yet
• Claim to be in discussions with the NSW and QLD govs about the head office location
• Indicates the AOC process will be quicker because of the brand new aircraft

The definition of interested may vary. Interested does not equate agreeing to the conditions Bonza probably want. It probably means interested in hearing more. So in reality, a pointless metric.

 

[jb747]

• Apparently 45 of the 46 airports Bonza has contacted have said they'd be interested in service

Which would seem like a given. But you can guarantee that none of those airports will be looking to put any money out there.

• Indicates the AOC process will be quicker because of the brand new aircraft

Which strikes me as nothing other than wishful thinking.

 

[AussieJasmine]

If only a few of their flights are going to be to/from syd/mel/bne then they can wave goodbye to capturing that 40% connecting traffic. I don't really see how you can fill up neigh on 200 seats flying between Dubbo and Albury. I can see the sense in avoiding the triangle routes but you still have to have at least one point in the route have a traffic generator of some kind.

People will "self connect", provided there is something to self-connect *to*

 

[HS-TQE]

If only a few of their flights are going to be to/from syd/mel/bne then they can wave goodbye to capturing that 40% connecting traffic. I don't really see how you can fill up neigh on 200 seats flying between Dubbo and Albury. I can see the sense in avoiding the triangle routes but you still have to have at least one point in the route have a traffic generator of some kind.

People will "self connect", provided there is something to self-connect *to*

Tiger Airways Australia old show on Television had various managers talking about the 'self-connect' function, stating that they didn't do interlines.

It's funny on the TV show how people whinge about missing connections even though it's in the T&Cs they don't do interlines.

 

[jakeseven7]

Bonza! have placed some key leadership positions - people who have background working at the old Tigger Airways (subsidiary of VA1 - RIP now of course) and Jetstar.

A blend of Jetstar and Tigger, lovely

Does anyone know where their HQ will be based?

 

[justinbrett]

OOL, NTL and AVV is the plastic triangle.

 

[HS-TQE]

Another few ex-Virgin Blue executives and Tigerair folks join the 'Bonza' team.

The ex-Virgin Blue folks (just like the CEO and Chairman) had also left the company for other LCCs prior to the changeover from VB to VA1.

Bonza welcomes another former Virgin Blue exec to leadership team

New Australian budget airline Bonza has released new details on its executive team, with another ex-Virgin Blue senior manager joining the ranks.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[MooTime]

Does bonza fly in any other country under this name or another name. I did see it's a USA PE conglomerate.

I think it's most silliest name.

I also highly doubt our little big Australia can support QF, VA, JQ, now Rex & this Bonza Baloney!

 

[AFF Editor]

I spoke to Bonza CEO Tim Jordan on today's episode of the AFF on Air podcast. You can listen here (or on most podcast platforms):

Podcast Episode #72: Bonza - Australia's Newest Airline

Listen now! This episode was released on 30 October, 2021.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[henrus]

Aviation YouTuber Noel Philips recently flew on Flair Airlines, most of the review isn't that useful but from 3min 30 sec you see the cabin which will be basically identical to bonza.

Another interesting thing he mentioned were the reviews, over 60% on trip advisor are one star:

Flair Airlines Reviews and Flights (with pictures) - Tripadvisor

Compare and book Flair Airlines: See traveller reviews and find great flight deals for Flair Airlines.

www.tripadvisor.com.au

The most common complaint was cancelled flights which then meant the next flight wasn't for at least 24 hours. This is something that has the potential to plague Bonza given they've hinted at heavy schedules and once daily flights to thinner destinations.

 

[dajop]

The most common complaint was cancelled flights which then meant the next flight wasn't for at least 24 hours. This is something that has the potential to plague Bonza given they've hinted at heavy schedules and once daily flights to thinner destinations.

Once daily? I thought for the thinner routes it was less than that, just a few times (2-3?) a week. Lots of LCCs in Europe certainly only do low frequencies on many of their routes and I just picked a Flair route at random (Thunder Bay to Toronto) and it was 2x weekly.

 

[dairyfloss]

Aviation YouTuber Noel Philips recently flew on Flair Airlines, most of the review isn't that useful but from 3min 30 sec you see the cabin which will be basically identical to bonza.

Another interesting thing he mentioned were the reviews, over 60% on trip advisor are one star:

Flair Airlines Reviews and Flights (with pictures) - Tripadvisor

Compare and book Flair Airlines: See traveller reviews and find great flight deals for Flair Airlines.

www.tripadvisor.com.au

The most common complaint was cancelled flights which then meant the next flight wasn't for at least 24 hours. This is something that has the potential to plague Bonza given they've hinted at heavy schedules and once daily flights to thinner destinations.

Seats look a lot like what is on IndiGo in India. I've had worse... but not much