Bonza Airline Discussion

[RooFlyer]

Getting a crane onto the tarmac suggests the airport is driving it. They probably wouldn't care enough to allow that otherwise.

That's what I would have thought, but Henrus said

It was AVCRO people moving blocks at MCY earlier in the week.

so I'm guessing that the repossessors didn't have full control of the aircraft - didn't have the keys (do aircraft have keys?). Possibly at the moment didn't even have access inside the cabin. Hence the concrete blocks.

 

[henrus]

so I'm guessing that the repossessors didn't have full control of the aircraft

Correct, the head of the maintenance company has told Australian aviation they were paid by the repossessors to take control of the assets (essentially ensuring that Bonza could not operate any more flights if they tried to).

didn't have the keys (do aircraft have keys?).

A Cessna yes but a Boeing no. Anyone with access to the coughpit on a commercial aircraft could potentially operate with no keys needed (we saw this in the US when a maintenance worker flew a Dash 8 then crashed it).

 

[Quickstatus]

during a repossession before it’s flown out.

Where is Sam Chui. AFAIK he has never done a repossession flight review

 

[henrus]

Where is Sam Chui. AFAIK he has never done a repossession flight review

One of the larger aircraft moving companies (who did a lot of the Virgin Australia movements during Covid) is Nomadic Aviation, something tells me Steve (a no nonsense guy) wouldn’t get along very well with Sam. Regardless if you haven’t come across it Steve has an excellent YouTube channel (link below) and who knows if we’re lucky we might just see some Bonza jets on a video soon.

https://youtube.com/@coughpitCasual?feature=shared

 

[RooFlyer]

Steve has an excellent YouTube channel (link below)

Another aviation youtube to eat up my time

 

[henrus]

Another aviation youtube to eat up my time

The Jazz from Steve’s father on the videos is also excellent, perhaps they should start preparing an Australian themed jazz track for Bazza’s trip back to the US?

 

[Saab34]

I guess if you think about it, engineering is probably the one part that they would pay on time, if that area starts to slip, they are at risk of CASA start walking in asking questions and issue notices, as seen with Tiger.

Engineering bloke might have been paid on time, but airports, fuel, leases, ground ops, and so on, unlikely.

 

[RooFlyer]

Interesting report from the Oz on-line.

Bonza management was warned almost two weeks before the repossession of its fleet the airline was in default of its financial obligations and faced legal action.

Administrator Hall Chadwick has revealed the leasing company AIP Capital issued event of default notices on April 17.

At 11.51pm on Monday April 29, notices were issued terminating the leases of Bonza aircraft, requiring the airline to cease operations of the jets.

A statement from Hall Chadwick said Bonza directors had advised the action “was not foreshadowed or expected.

 

[UP4014]

I think the aircraft owners regardless of what they think they've done with concrete blocks is now bound by the administrators, they call the shots. Once they are satisfied there is no future the equipment owners can take their gear and depart.

 

[justinbrett]

I think the aircraft owners regardless of what they think they've done with concrete blocks is now bound by the administrators, they call the shots. Once they are satisfied there is no future the equipment owners can take their gear and depart.

I’m not sure that’s correct. The leases were terminated prior to Bonza going into administration, they don’t need permission to leave.

 

[Mr H]

Where is Sam Chui. AFAIK he has never done a repossession flight review

Do they have champagne and rose petals on repossession flights?

 

[Mr Bill]

Seems like a lot of kicking Bonza while they are down and probably out. Although wanting to, I did not have the opportunity to fly with them because they did not service BNE or SYD, supposedly not part of their business model. I notice that none of the criticism (above) has been directed at the greedy major airports which effectively precluded Bonza Ops. Just one of many contributing factors. Here's hoping for a Bonza Mk II.

 

[Saab34]

Seems like a lot of kicking Bonza while they are down and probably out.

I think it’s warranted. The Australian leaked they had two weeks heads up on legal threats due unpaid leases. So assuming those unpaid leases go back to Feb or March. Then they come out on the day of repossession ‘we are all surprised’.

Just be careful with the language from the company, most of it will be lies, often common during these processes. You will have executives trying to feather their own nest as such as the whole thing heads for the exit.

 

[RooFlyer]

Seems like a lot of kicking Bonza while they are down and probably out. Although wanting to, I did not have the opportunity to fly with them because they did not service BNE or SYD, supposedly not part of their business model. I notice that none of the criticism (above) has been directed at the greedy major airports which effectively precluded Bonza Ops. Just one of many contributing factors. Here's hoping for a Bonza Mk II.

I hear what you are saying; I might have given 'em a whirl if they flew into HBA. IIRC, the airports they serviced were determined by which ones would give them a discount on the airport fees. (with maybe a few exceptions).

 

[Cynicor]

Seems like a lot of kicking Bonza while they are down and probably out. Although wanting to, I did not have the opportunity to fly with them because they did not service BNE or SYD, supposedly not part of their business model. I notice that none of the criticism (above) has been directed at the greedy major airports which effectively precluded Bonza Ops. Just one of many contributing factors. Here's hoping for a Bonza Mk II.

Hey! If you read the thread, we were kicking them when they were standing, too!!

 

[Mr Bill]

Hey! If you read the thread, we were kicking them when they were standing, too!!

Understood......but wondering how many of the "kickers" have actually flown Bonza or just feeding on the media frenzy ?

 

[Saab34]

I’ve flown them. Great product. Great staff. Convenient route. I can’t kick that part of the place.

The kicking issues are purely balance sheet related. Clearly undercapitalised.

 

[UP4014]

I’m not sure that’s correct. The leases were terminated prior to Bonza going into administration, they don’t need permission to leave.

So why wouldn't they have left? It's money rusting at the moment.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m not sure that’s correct. The leases were terminated prior to Bonza going into administration, they don’t need permission to leave.

Depending on the situation, the Cape Town Convention (and associated protocol for aircraft) may apply: Cape Town Convention

 

[Saab34]

Someone mentioned on Facebook they did lodge flight plans to BNE for the evening of the day they got repossessed. They went into administration after that which seems to have halted things.

With Flair crews in town the day before doing some circuits with its parked Jet, the timing is interesting, read into that what you will.

The lessor is likely already negotiating new terms with a new customer overseas. Likely would have 1-2 months grounded regardless until they get ready to hand over to a new carrier. They wouldn’t be going elsewhere for a bit, likely not too urgent to get them out right off the bat.