Bonza Airline Discussion

[Mattg]

As others mentioned in the past MCY-PER is a large potential market, especially if PER/PAPL and the Western Australia Government are able to be talked into 'coming to the party' to fund a future 3rd Bonza base for any future expansion plans beyond the inevitable adjustment/right-sizing of the current network.

I think I may have heard that the runway at MCY is not long enough to handle a full 737-8 heading to PER. But AVV-PER is a real possibility.

Something like CNS-PER would be possible also but not sure that would fit with Bonza's model.

 

[jrfsp]

I think I may have heard that the runway at MCY is not long enough to handle a full 737-8 heading to PER. But AVV-PER is a real possibility.

Something like CNS-PER would be possible also but not sure that would fit with Bonza's model.

The new runway should be long enough. Not such how much of a market there is between MCY/CNS and PER. VA and JQ already fly CNS-PER. MEL or AVV - PER would work well, even JQs fares are expensive with poor timing.

I actually think MEL-BME / BQB / GET / KGI/ KTA etc could work at low frequency.

 

[Saab34]

Issue with AVV is they would need the aircraft based at Avalon or Perth. They don’t appear to overnight crews.

A Perth base would be good. Depends if they can also get Pilots.

 

[docjames]

Issue with AVV is they would need the aircraft based at Avalon or Perth. They don’t appear to overnight crews.

A Perth base would be good. Depends if they can also get Pilots.

Would they do AVV-PER-AVV as single duty day?

 

[dajop]

Issue with AVV is they would need the aircraft based at Avalon or Perth. They don’t appear to overnight crews.

A Perth base would be good. Depends if they can also get Pilots.

Not sure they would need an aircraft based in either location, crew would be more the issue. The aircraft could easily do MCY-AVV-PER-AVV-MCY , for example:
MCY-AVV 18:30/21:00
AVV-PER 22:00/00:30
PER-AVV 01:30/07:15
AVV-MCY 08:00-10:30

 

[Saab34]

Not sure they would need an aircraft based in either location, crew would be more the issue. The aircraft could easily do MCY-AVV-PER-AVV-MCY , for example:
MCY-AVV 18:30/21:00
AVV-PER 22:00/00:30
PER-AVV 01:30/07:15
AVV-MCY 08:00-10:30

Agree but generally these setups avoid overnights for crew, which also then increases the required crew for the network.

Not sure what is also in the Bonza crew contracts. I know Jetstar Pilots agreed recently that any red eye flights now involve an overnight so they are no longer conducting the return in one hit. Cabin crew didn’t get that clause.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Agree but generally these setups avoid overnights for crew, which also then increases the required crew for the network.

Not sure what is also in the Bonza crew contracts. I know Jetstar Pilots agreed recently that any red eye flights now involve an overnight so they are no longer conducting the return in one hit. Cabin crew didn’t get that clause.

I’m doing SYD-PER-SYD tomorrow. Almost 10hrs flying time. Next week I’m doing SYD-PER-ZNE-PER which is another 9hrs. I have also done PER-KGI-PER-MEL-SYD in one day and was absolutely shattered by the end of it.

Back of the clock flying is a little different and very inefficient for the company. Usually after a red eye there are no other sectors to operate but we could do one paxing sector and then have the rest of the day off.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I’m doing SYD-PER-SYD tomorrow. Almost 10hrs flying time. Next week I’m doing SYD-PER-ZNE-PER which is another 9hrs.

At first I thought you were describing status runs, then realised these were in the coughpit! 10 hours driving in a car and I'm buggered and I have one less dimension to deal with. I see the ATSB did a study that confirmed that, as you describe, the sector after the overnighter was the killer.

Not sure how bonza would manage transcontinental; ADL would appear to be a more modest and sensible medium term target for them, given they appear to be doing well out of Melbourne airports..

Cheers skip

 

[Saab34]

I’m doing SYD-PER-SYD tomorrow. Almost 10hrs flying time. Next week I’m doing SYD-PER-ZNE-PER which is another 9hrs. I have also done PER-KGI-PER-MEL-SYD in one day and was absolutely shattered by the end of it.

Back of the clock flying is a little different and very inefficient for the company. Usually after a red eye there are no other sectors to operate but we could do one paxing sector and then have the rest of the day off.

That’s tough. Would the overnight layover Jetstar rule suit your employer? I guess they operate a more simple point to point operation, ie do a 4 hour redeye, overnight, then a 4 hour red eye back. Sounds like they would make you do a 9 hour trek, overnight, then another 9 hour trek back! Ouch.

 

[AviatorInsight]

That’s tough. Would the overnight layover Jetstar rule suit your employer? I guess they operate a more simple point to point operation, ie do a 4 hour redeye, overnight, then a 4 hour red eye back. Sounds like they would make you do a 9 hour trek, overnight, then another 9 hour trek back! Ouch.

Next week’s pairing to PER isn’t too bad. Operate the SYD-PER-ZNE-PER then overnight and 24hrs later, operate the red eye back to Sydney and then go home.

*sorry for thread drift*

 

[Saab34]

Looks like MCY-PQQ is a fizzer. NTL looks good.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Speaking of potential fizzers, Bonza launched MCY-TMW yesterday, the last of its initial routes out of the Sunny Coast. Even the Sunshine Coast News didn’t bother with a separate article. Not sure whether there are any more routes out of Melbourne yet to start.

Latest news: initial Bonza roll-out complete

 

[Saab34]

That one seems like a dead duck. Tamworth to Melbourne seems pretty average also.

Melbourne to Port Mac, Bundy seem to be sold out on many flights coming up. Melbourne to Mildura Friday/Monday seems to be a winner.

I think the Melbourne to QLD routes will do well aside Wellcamp.

Still…half the whole network seems pretty ordinary though. Likely better vs what many of us thought, still need to sort out the bad half but.

 

[Harrison_133]

Bonza are currently down 1 aircraft due to a bird strike which is playing havoc with the schedule. They have a few eye watering delays like:

- MEL-WTB scheduled for 0800, delayed until 1755
- TSV-ROK scheduled for 0920, delayed until 2040.

Starting this week they no longer have a ‘spare’ as the Melbourne base requires 2 aircraft, although there is a lot more slack in the schedule compared to the Sunshine Coast base, but it’s safe to say the schedule is going to fall apart whenever they’re down a jet.

 

[RB]

Bonza are currently down 1 aircraft due to a bird strike which is playing havoc with the schedule. They have a few eye watering delays like:

- MEL-WTB scheduled for 0800, delayed until 1755
- TSV-ROK scheduled for 0920, delayed until 2040.

Starting this week they no longer have a ‘spare’ as the Melbourne base requires 2 aircraft, although there is a lot more slack in the schedule compared to the Sunshine Coast base, but it’s safe to say the schedule is going to fall apart whenever they’re down a jet.

I saw a facebook post yesterday that Port Macquarie people already had been also been advised of upcoming long delays so your post probably explains it

 

[jakeseven7]

Bonza are currently down 1 aircraft due to a bird strike which is playing havoc with the schedule. They have a few eye watering delays like:

- MEL-WTB scheduled for 0800, delayed until 1755
- TSV-ROK scheduled for 0920, delayed until 2040.

Starting this week they no longer have a ‘spare’ as the Melbourne base requires 2 aircraft, although there is a lot more slack in the schedule compared to the Sunshine Coast base, but it’s safe to say the schedule is going to fall apart whenever they’re down a jet.

Luckily their target market shouldn't care too much about delays (They would hope at least).

 

[Saab34]

Bonza starting to run into issues with no spare aircraft and engineering breakdowns. Last two weekends they have been down one aircraft or 25% of its total capacity. Social channels certainly copping a belting. Essentially the next flight being 3/4/5 days away after a cancelled flight is a reason why I’ll probably never book.

 

[sqrt()]

Bonza starting to run into issues with no spare aircraft and engineering breakdowns. Last two weekends they have been down one aircraft or 25% of its total capacity. Social channels certainly copping a belting. Essentially the next flight being 3/4/5 days away after a cancelled flight is a reason why I’ll probably never book.

No one has any experience getting rebooked on to QF/VA/ZL?

 

[PineappleSkip]

No one has any experience getting rebooked on QF/VA/ZL?

I have plenty, including last Sunday being among a lot of QF passengers rebooked to the next flight, 30 minutes later. Even getting rebooked 6 hours later is a lot better than getting rebooked 3 days later. I recall this being a problem with Tiger, and such a prospect was the chief reason I never flew with them

 

[sqrt()]

I have plenty, including last Sunday being among a lot of QF passengers rebooked to the next flight, 30 minutes later. Even getting rebooked 6 hours later is a lot better than getting rebooked 3 days later. I recall this being a problem with Tiger, and such a prospect was the chief reason I never flew with them

Sorry, meant getting rebooked from AB to another carrier! Should have said "rebooked on to"