Bonza Airline Discussion

[Must...Fly!]

If they go bust, I don't think it'll take long for someone else to try but with a better plan and perhaps a more right-sized fleet. The idea which many including myself doubted clearly does have potential to be successful.

 

[docjames]

If they go bust, what appears to have worked and what hasn’t must surely have given Rex (and JQ, VA and QF) some ideas on some seasonal or low frequency routes they could use their jets upon…..some of the chosen routes are clearly unviable, some are clearly viable for a reliable operator…..

 

[aikman]

When presented with these options, surely most passengers (except the rich and those not paying for themselves) will be willing to take a gamble on Bonza.

 

[Saab34]

Melbourne to Alice $500 each way on QF such a rort.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Melbourne to Alice $500 each way on QF such a rort.

So start an airline, with you own money, based in Alice~Uluru that serves all major AU airports

 

[BAM1748]

Melbourne to Alice $500 each way on QF such a rort.

Virgin is even more at $560.

 

[p--and--t]

Virgin is even more at $560.

…..and not a direct service (TWO stops)

 

[MooTime]

…..and not a direct service (TWO stops)

Lot more SC's for only $60 more.

 

[Saab34]

They have come out in the past and said they need to charge high fares to make the route/s viable.

Complete lie, they have never made any attempt to stimulate any of these regional markets via lower fares, I’m talking about $150-$200 each way, about the same they charge for other similar length routes.

They prefer to charge $500, and still run relatively full.

 

[henrus]

They have come out in the past and said they need to charge high fares to make the route/s viable.

Things like ground handling, fuel, airport fees all cost more than airports on the golden triangle. Sure not 5x the price more but it does add up, combined with the face that there is competition on other routes driving prices down and this is why we end up with $500 3 hour flights.

Only way is for competition to drive the price down or gov intervention. I’d also guess Bonza is making a loss here… early days they said it’d be about $50 per hour of flying (what they’d set their fares at), now were looking at almost 3 hour flights for under $100.

 

[Saab34]

Qantas has reduced prices on that route I got an email last month for Sale fares, when comparing it to previous emails, seems to be about 20% cheaper. Thanks Bonza.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

methinks the bell rings too soon, 777 partners have kept flair afloat for a few years, surely the won't be so unAustralian, and unBonza and give up on this experiment after 6 months. Just because the corporate/customer regulations aren't the same in Miami as they are in Canberra. (thank god.)

 

[jb747]

Complete lie, they have never made any attempt to stimulate any of these regional markets via lower fares, I’m talking about $150-$200 each way, about the same they charge for other similar length routes.

Surely it's up to the areas to stimulate their own tourism.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Surely it's up to the areas to stimulate their own tourism.

When one particular airline has a monopoly on 80 percent of the main regional routes? ie Mt Isa, Mackay, Gladstone, Alice Springs, etc etc. Surely you're having a laugh guv?

 

[yachty]

Getting (slightly) back on topic, 777 Partners are being sued over the non-payment of four Flair aircraft that were repossessed last year:

Lessors chase 777 Partners for $28m alleging non-payment for Flair 737s

Investment firm 777 Partners is being pursued by lessors of four aircraft formerly operated by Canadian carrier Flair Airlines, over allegations of non-payment. Court filings obtained by FlightGlobal show that the dispute centres on three Boeing 737 Max 8s and a single 737-800 - respectively...

www.flightglobal.com

"777 Partners provided guarantees for each of the four leases involving a Boeing 737-800 and three 737 MAX 8 jets, while 600 partners had given it for three leases, the lawsuit said.

The $30 million claim is the latest round in a dispute over the four jets that were leased to privately owned Flair, but were repossessed in March by Airborne Capital, which managed the jets on behalf of the three lessors."

 

[Saab34]

I don’t understand why Flair are filing its own lawsuit. They didn’t pay the bills after numerous months of default notices. Pretty basic stuff, why on earth would any court side with them. Bizarre.

 

[Harrison_133]

50% off all routes.

And the 50% off sale has been extended until Monday...

(Was meant to end yesterday)

 

[justinbrett]

I'm still waiting for my refund. 31 days later...

Sadly their online chat queue isn't any shorter.

Edit - response (after 3.5 hour wait):

Thanks for waiting, taking a look, it is still in queue. Our Finance team are processing refunds as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for this process taking longer than expected and that our processing times are currently exceeding the estimated timeframe provided. Holidays also went through and were not able to process some refunds. Please rest assured we have not forgotten about your refund, and we are working as hard as possible, including additional resources being bought onboard to assist with the backlog.But I will send in a refund follow up on your behalf so that hopefully the finance team can prioritise this. Hopefully you would receive your funds the soonest time possible.

 

[Saab34]

Pretty cheap pricing on all OOL routes this and next week, as well as many others across the network. Even -2/3 weeks out, all seems pretty unsustainable and cash burning. Cairns to Gold Coast $59 this week and over the next month. $39 OOL to ROK this week and going forward. TSV-WTB $39!

I think it’s fair to say the whole model isn’t working. The question is, what next? The next drama is still to unfold, the OOL fate post Flair in which they are selling 6 months of seats for. I know exactly what’s going to happen, and if they do just chop, change and cancel again, then they should just cease operations

 

[Albert Hoffman]

I think it’s fair to say the whole model

Have you noticed how long flair is been goin? I think it's fair to say 777 partners have a lot of cash to burn. that miami money.