Tag Archives: Bonza

Bonza enters administration and suspends operations after its aircraft are repossessed

Bonza Aviation entered administration, the Australian form of Chapter 11 on Tuesday, April 30.

Bonza abruptly cancelled all flights on April 30 following the repossession of its four Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft earlier in the morning.

Aerial view of Nobby’s Head, Newcastle, NSW

The airline issued this statement:

Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated between Tuesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 2, 2024, as discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business.

We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market.

Cities served:

Bonza has previously lauched scheduled services on January 31, 2023 from its Sunshine Coast base in Queensland.

Bonza aircraft photo gallery:

Bonza’s first aircraft touches down in Australia

Bonza made this announcement on Social media:

Bonza’s first aircraft has touched down in Australia for the very first time.

Flight AB 001 landed at Bonza’s Backyard, Sunshine Coast Airport, on August 1. Now this purple beauty needs a name.

Calling all Shazzas, Kimbos, Maccas… Do you have a ripper nickname that would look good on the side of our brand new aircraft? Let us nick your nickname! Share in the comments below and we will be asking our Bonza Local Legends to vote for their favourites.

Boeing released this statement:

Boeing has delivered the first 737-8 airplane to Bonza, a new carrier that becomes the first Australian airline to fly the new 737 MAX. Today, Bonza held an arrival ceremony to commemorate the milestone and welcome the arrival of the fuel-efficient 737-8 at its Sunshine Coast base.

The 737-8 will enable Bonza to optimize its domestic operations, while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% and creating a 50% smaller noise footprint compared to previous generation airplanes. The 737 MAX family has the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other aerodynamic enhancements to improve performance and reduce operating costs. More than 40 airlines globally are operating the 737 MAX, which has made over 720,000 revenue flights totaling more than 1.8 million flight hours since late 2020.

Based in Australia’s Sunshine Coast, Bonza has signaled a commitment to add seven 737 MAX airplanes to its fleet within its first year of operation. The airline is working hard to commence flights as soon as late September subject to regulatory approval. The airline has also launched a nationwide contest on social media platforms to ask locals to help name its airplanes.

Bonza prepares to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 now painted, unveils its ‘wear it your way’ uniforms

Bonza (Melbourne) is a new airline backed by 777 Partners of Miami that is preparing to launch operations in September 2022 to underserved markets in Australia.

The new airline is getting ready to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8.

The pictured N5515X has now been painted by Boeing pending delivery as VH-UJT.

In other news, the upstart has introduced its uniforms;

Bonza, Australia’s only independent low-cost airline, has thrown out the rule book as they reveal their first-ever uniform. The ‘wear it your way’ range, featuring Australian aviation’s first-ever on-trend white custom sneakers and cotton t-shirts, allows Bonza legends to let their individual personalities shine with various ‘mix and match’ options.

“Our brief was clear. Create a uniform that Bonza legends will wear with pride. We know airline uniforms are the land that time forgot and we wanted to change that with our partners at Total Image Group,” said Carly Povey, Chief Commercial Officer at Bonza.

Povey went on to say there will be no ‘grooming guide’ for legends and instead cabin crew, pilots, operation centre and office staff will be able to style various looks depending on where they’re travelling to, their mood on the day and personalities.

“We won’t dictate what lipstick to wear – or whether you have to wear lipstick at all. We won’t ask crew to cover up their tattoos and just because you’re female, that doesn’t mean you have to wear a skirt. If you’re non-binary, pregnant, work in the office or onboard, we have options for you. Bonza is for the many not the few, and that’s what you’ll see with our first-ever uniforms,” added Povey.

In a nod to the many tropical Queensland destinations on Bonza’s route map, the looks include tailored shorts which can be worn with the white cotton t-shirt and blazer which features purple trim and the Bonza values stitched inside on the lining. There’s also a pant option, shirt dress and sleeveless coat. Accessories include a Bonza thumbs up pin, branded custom socks and a purple scarf that can be worn as a hair, neck or pocket accessory.

Pilots uniforms feature a crisp white button-up shirt, tailored pants and charcoal blazer with silver stripes. Pilot uniforms are not exempt from a bit of Bonza personality with the addition of purple lining in the blazer, inside of the shirt collar and on-shirt logo. In a break of tradition, there’s no pilot hat. Everyone agreed it was better to pass that saving to our customers.

Total Image Group Head Designer and CEO, Pamela Jabbour said: “My goal was for the uniforms to reflect the excitement and optimism that Bonza brings to Aussie travellers. They’re ditching the rule book in every way and the uniforms are no exception. Instead of pantyhose, polyester shirts, black high heels and traditional embroidery – we have created a uniform that reflects current trends and that legends will wear with pride.”

Total Image Group are working with Bonza to extend the range to include crew sunglasses. “We intend to offer additional options to legends and to be the first airline to offer a sunnies subsidy, should crew wish to purchase Australian made sunglasses that will be made from recycled materials,” said Povey.

Top Copyright Photo: Bonza Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N5515X (VH-UJT) (msn 62533) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 958109.

Bonza to launch operations in September

Bonza, Australia’s newest carrier, is now planning to launch operations in September with three Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s.

The new airline is backed by Miami-based private investment company 777 Partners.

The start-up was founded in 2021 by Tim Jordan, a former administrator of Virgin Australia’s low-cost ancestor, Virgin Blue. The airline expects to launch operations in September 2022.

Proposed Routes:

Bonza announces 25 routes and 16 destinations in Australia

Bonza has announced 25 routes and 16 destinations in Australia as the new airline reveals its start-up plans.

The new airline will be based at Sunshine Coast Airport and Melbourne.

The initial 16 destinations are: Albury, Avalon, Bundaberg, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba Wellcamp, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.

Sunshine Coast

12 routes to:
- Albury – 2 flights per week
- Avalon – 3 flights per week
- Cairns – 5 flights per week
- Coffs Harbour – 2 flights per week
- Mackay – 3 flights per week
- Melbourne – 4 flights per week
- Mildura – 2 flights per week
- Newcastle – 4 flights per week
- Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
- Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
- Townsville – 4 flights per week
- Whitsunday Coast – 3 flights per week

Melbourne

8 routes to:
- Bundaberg – 2 flights per week
- Gladstone – 2 flights per week
- Mackay – 2 flights per week
- Mildura – 3 flights per week
- Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
- Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
- Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
- Toowoomba Wellcamp – 4 flights per week

Whitsunday Coast