Australia needs Bonza
Posted on May 1st, 2024
Bonza temporarily suspended services from Tuesday 30th April to Tuesday 14th May, as the Company has entered into voluntary administration with Norton Rose Fulbright regarding the ongoing viability of the business.
Bonza CEO Tim Jordan has apologised to their customers with the Company working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market.
A hotline has been established for customer queries – 03 8678 1600. The Government has also established a hotline for stranded passengers, 1800 069 244, which at time of publication, is available until 10pm Wednesday 1st May.
Capricorn Enterprise CEO, Mary Carroll said, “The aviation industry in Australia is aggressively competitive. For example, the demise of Ansett in 2001 and Impulse eventually becoming Jetstar which was purchased by Qantas.
“The Bonza business model is based on linking regional centres which would otherwise not be serviced by the two major airlines in Australia; however, its four aircraft which are leased have recently been purchased by new owners. This is a major factor in the current circumstances.
“With a 73% capacity in its first year of operation, it is clear that Bonza has played an important role in the country’s aviation sector, providing critical routes which were previously not available.
“Just as the Federal government supported Qantas during the Covid years, government has a key role to play in ensuring airline competition is fair and equitable in Australia.”
9 of the 17 destination ports for BONZA are in Queensland. Rockhampton is a key regional airport for BONZA, with 174,000 seats per annum scheduled across 9 flights per week inbound and 9 fights per week outbound from Melbourne, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Cairns.
Direct flights combined from Melbourne to Rockhampton (2 per week), Gladstone (2 per week) and Bundaberg (2 per week) airports means that 120,000 passengers can travel directly to and from the Southern Great Barrier Reef destination, so a loss of these flights would be a huge blow to the growing leisure market. All flights combined across these three airports delivers a quarter of a million (251,000) seats to and from the three city centres servicing the SGBR destination.
Government definitely has a role to play in this instance as we need our skies to be competitive and take cars of the highways. Electric vehicles, buses and rail are subsidized by government, so an urgent review and assistance is needed to ensure this fantastic budget airline remains.
Listen to this interview with CEO Mary Carroll on ABC Radio National: 2nd May 2024
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/bonza-rockhamptonn/103793724
Traveltalk airline news: Bonza Broke? Flights cancelled across the country.
1 May 2024 Bonza and Hall Chadwick media release – Administrators appointed
