Bonza Airline Discussion

[servicerequired]

One thought I had, wonder if they are diluting some markets in offering dual SEQ destinations (eg. from MQL and ABX).

Out of ABX (or MQL) there are probably three distinct market segments - those travelling to OOL, those travelling to MCY, and then those who are agnostic between OOL and MCY - but want a cheap flight to the beach. If this third segment is largest, there would surely be some dilution going on.

These regional routes which are dominated by QF and ZL - like MQL MEL as an example, VA did pretty well with their daily 737 service which flew in and out approx 10:30 / 11:00 AM for years ...

I'm also not sure that MCY is really that much of a destination as opposed to OOL ... I could be wrong though ...

 

[Saab34]

One thought I had, wonder if they are diluting some markets in offering dual SEQ destinations (eg. from MQL and ABX).

Out of ABX (or MQL) there are probably three distinct market segments - those travelling to OOL, those travelling to MCY, and then those who are agnostic between OOL and MCY - but want a cheap flight to the beach. If this third segment is largest, there would surely be some dilution going on.

The Albury flight seems to be full to both.

I think they shouldn’t have run OOL and MCY on the same days from Mildura. Spread it out to offer four options a week. People will drive/commute to either OOL/MCY to catch the direct flight. Offering two on the same day is too much. The Mildura flights only appear to be half full also, likely they have gone too heavy handed into that market, I think twice weekly to OOL would be enough, however I’d argue that it should be seasonal only.

 

[dajop]

, I think twice weekly to OOL would be enough, however I’d argue that it should be seasonal only.

Would that be seasonal in summer or seasonal in winter though?

 

[jb747]

Albury is interesting as it offers a very large catchment. Albury/Wodonga itself is about 100,000k, but then there are a number of largish towns within about an hour‘s drive, that could push the total catchment up towards 200,000k. The offerings to other than Melbourne and Sydney have always been sparse. But, they’ll have to be reliable. The local bush telegraph will quickly grab any smoke signals indicating otherwise. Actually it would have been nice if Rex had tried their 737 to Qld…I’d much rather travel with them.

 

[Saab34]

It’s a good point JB, I think Rex could run a BNE-ABX 737 flight. The market could probably handle Bonza and Rex.

I don’t think VA or QF going in would do much for the consumer aside charging high fares. Rex generally offer value fares so I wouldn’t be concerned about pricing.

Would that be seasonal in summer or seasonal in winter though?

Good question. The issue for a model like this it’s very patchy. Air Asia are going to trial something on the Gold Coast, only offering flights in selected peak periods across the year. It’s hard for Bonza as they have staff on the ground at these airports that generally service Bonza only. Air Asia not a problem, the contractor has many other carriers.

 

[Harrison_133]

All routes $49.

And they've extended yet another sale before it's even ended. The all seats for $49 sale now ends Monday.

So much for "200,000 seats...hurry, seats won't last!"

 

[justinbrett]

Surprising they aren't having a J fare sale

 

[henrus]

Surprising they aren't having a J fare sale

For the Air Nauru seats?

 

[justinbrett]

For the Air Nauru seats?

For anything. Lie flat F seats.

They've never stopped a lack of assets prevent them selling them before.

 

[jb747]

It’s a good point JB, I think Rex could run a BNE-ABX 737 flight. The market could probably handle Bonza and Rex.

I doubt that it would support both. But, I don't think it would take much effort to make Bonza disappear.

 

[codash1099]

Bonza chalks up 750,000 passengers in its first year

On its first “Bonzaversary”, the low-cost carrier claimed it had saved passengers more than $125 million in its first year, based on the difference between its own average airfares and those of other airlines on routes where they compete.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[Harrison_133]

Well I finally caved and gave Flonza a go. I needed a last minute ticket to the Gold Coast, and the $49 tickets were too good to pass up. Luckily, everything went as planned this time.

AVV-OOL was very empty with around 30 passengers. The inbound didn't look much better, I counted around 40 passengers get off. Boarding was quick and the door was closed 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, making for a nice and early arrival on the Gold Coast.

The return OOL-MEL departed around 20 minutes late but landed on time, and I was moved to the exit row for free at check in. Not the busiest flight either with around 90 passengers. The inbound flight from Cairns had about 70. Comparatively, the VA and JQ flights to Melbourne around the same time were all full.

Managed to fly on both C-FLKC and C-FLHI. They each have different seats. FLKC has black leather seats with green trim, which had a bit more padding and slightly better legroom at the standard seats.

The Canadian crew were fantastic, and the service felt more polished than on the actual Bonza flights I've taken. Interesting to see they were wearing the Flair uniform with Bonza branded accessories.

For $49 I can't complain. The flights were on time, I had a row to myself on both flights, and the Flair crew were great. I'd still be hesitant booking Bonza too far in advance, but I'd consider them for last minute trips if the flights are cheap and I couldn't justify the alternatives. And if anything, I enjoyed the novelty of flying on a Canadian aircraft domestically.

 

[Saab34]

With those numbers it’s fair to say that they need to get themselves a website and some third party feed also.

With a 90% break even LF, plus all the added costs with the Flair deal, would be fair to say break even for those flights would be 100%. Would be a bit of cash burn going on here.

 

[Chicken]

With those numbers it’s fair to say that they need to get themselves a website and some third party feed also.

Yeah. I saw this post saying $98 to Alice, so I searched for the web site, wanted to see where do Bonza fly to, what I could potentially book. Nothing. Their web site is basically a static web site, with no route, no map, no timetable, nothing. I was 90% gonna give up, but then I decided that i really wanted to have a look, so I installed the app, then I used the booking engine in order to discover what their routes are.

Man, what a PITA.

 

[Saab34]

To be offering $49 fares on pretty much all routes tomorrow and the weekend, including the 4 hour hop to Darwin, would indicate some serious issues at hand.

I’ve not seen an airline sell themselves out like this, forgo the whole yield management thing and just sell all flights for peanuts on every route.

Perhaps many people still don’t book as they don’t even know about them, thanks to the app only approach.

 

[Harrison_133]

To be offering $49 fares on pretty much all routes tomorrow and the weekend, including the 4 hour hop to Darwin, would indicate some serious issues at hand.

Both flights I took had $49 fares still on sale 3 hours before departure time...

 

[justinbrett]

To be fair, we're now in the thick of the annual travel slump. Just looking at SYD-BNE fares for Fri Afternoon, they are rock bottom even on QF/VA.

It will be slow going from here until about Easter - hopefully Bonza can make it through. They really missed their moment not being ready for OOL in December.

 

[Harrison_133]

In other news, they've just announced Sunshine Coast to Launceston flights commencing March 29th, operating Mondays and Fridays.

Looks like the aircraft for MCY-LST was freed up by the cancellation of TSV-ROK.

 

[UP4014]

In other news, they've just announced Sunshine Coast to Launceston flights commencing March 29th, operating Mondays and Fridays.

Looks like the aircraft for MCY-LST was freed up by the cancellation of TSV-ROK.

Try every combination of routes until you find one that works, seems like even at $49 per flight they can't fill the planes.

 

[Saab34]

Well if they cancel OOL-LST due to no aircraft after Flair they at least can funnel people via MCY like they did with DRW-OOL