Australia's newest airline has gone live! Email sent from them:
Example fares from the Sunshine Coast:
Flights now live, but only in their apps (iOS and Android).
Also it's geofenced so you don't seem to be able to download from outside Australia.
Isnt the 737-8 MAX the aircraft which keeps falling out of the sky?
Something to do with the autopilot and the design of the engines.
Pretty sure it was banned from flying in the USA for about 2 years but is now OK since a software and training update?
It does not keep falling out but it did happen two times. Given the amount of scrutiny it has received from worldwide safety boards after the accidents, I’d think it probably is one of the safest planes out there now.
It was an MCAS issue and it has been fixed (poor design). Currently there are 2500 uneventful flights daily with the Max 8
It was more than just a poor design. Boeing deliberately didnt mention the MCAS in their documentation when they sought FAA approval for the plane.
It was deliberate misrepresentation and fraud - and 346 people died as a result.
@Ozymandias: It is true that past performance pre the fixes to MCAS will not necessarily be indicative of future performance post the fixes.
I guess time will tell just how safe the MAX post MCAS fixes is. Pretty sure they also now have angle of attack sensor failure lights in all models (previously an optional extra for extra cash which budget airlines didnt pay for).
However it will take millions of uneventful flights before the average flights per fatal crash come down to anywhere near the majority of modern commercial planes
http://www.airsafe.com/events/models/rate_mod.htm
I note several planes have never been in a fatal crash - including the A380….
Boeing's mistakes cost them money - but also market share and loss of reputation. Quality control at Boeing just isn't what it used to be prior to their merger with McDonnell Douglas….
@Ozymandias: While true, it doesn't specifically mean its safe either.
The situation is not black and white enough to simply be fixed, but hopefully its as safe as other aircraft (not proven)
how many times qualifies as 'keeps falling'?
15 routes on sale
BONZA will initially fly 25 routes to 17 destinations in the Eastern States, 9 in regional Qld
Did a dummy booking with them. Pretty simple and straight forward.
Simple now - as there are few flights & few destinations. And few know it's open for bookings.
Only easy if departing Melbourne or their regional centres.
I give them about 6 months until they have to change their strategy - all these routes from MCY to smaller towns won't be sustainable long term.
It'll be interesting to see. I think they've timed it well to give themselves a good chance given how much migration Covid caused.
I feel they've timed it badly with rising interest rates and right now is low season in the travel industry.
I agree, I can't see this working for them even short term.
Sydney <> Melbourne is the 2nd busiest domestic flights worldwide…
Crazy not to put one MAX between BNE/SYD/MEL
Why Bonza claim that is not their strategy… to compete on that busy corridor other airlines service:
Why compete with the big boys with deep pockets?? That's the way other start up airlines went bankrupt!!
Bonza is a REGIONAL airline. Little competition for those services & high fares.
Basing their HQ & operations out of Sunshine Coast seems a lower cost option than BNE.
Aspects of their approach certainly reminds me of budget airline Ryanair.
What a brave take. I’ve seen the same comment parroted 100 times over in comments.
Unique
737 MAX 8
Boeing paid $2.5bn to avoid criminal prosecution
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11655165/Boeing-ord…
346 dead - their families got $500 million USD in victim compensation. Boeing paid a $243.6million fine and $1.7billion USD compensation to airlines that had to ground their fleets.
Seems like human lives are worth a lot less than airline profits….
Boeing also previously agreed to a $200 million USD penalty from the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle charges that it 'negligently violated the antifraud provisions,' of US securities law.
The agency argued that just one month after the first crash, the company put out a press release approved by then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg that 'selectively highlighted certain facts, implying pilot error and poor aircraft maintenance.'
That release failed to disclose that the company knew a key flight handling system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System posed safety issues and was never redesigned, the SEC argued.
You finished? Let it go man.
Do you offer the same advice to the families of the 346 dead?
Will do only after you've posted the same point 346 times. As if any thing you say or I do will change that
Have to download an app to book, or even see where they fly? … too much effort.
The way of the modern world. With Service NSW there are a lot of things you can do on the app but cannot do on the web site. It's all about apps these days, web sites are obsolete.
Most details are in first link in first comment.
Or search Bonza destinations & routes.
As your profile shows MEL - you're in the only capital city this regional airline fly to / from! Rest are regional centres.
Most of Australia misses out on this Deal! But you're complaining!!
One could argue that Avalon is more regional/Geelong than it is Melb.
So? I was discussing MEL, not Avalon!
Bonza will (soon) operate from their base at MEL (Melbourne Airport).
As I stated in first comment in this Deal
Bonza also uses Avalon, to cater for some regional fliers. Melbourne & Sunshine Coast Airports are their operational bases.
And in the first link in that comment… Flights from Bonza's second hub at Melbourne Airport will go on sale "in a matter of weeks"!
Seems reading is also as you claim …too much effort🤔
@INFIDEL: Yep, especially when the OP says:
"Example fares from the Sunshine Coast:
Rockhampton $49
Whitsunday Coast $59
Albury $69
Avalon $79
Cairns $79"
which is all I was commenting about.
@Wolfy: Lol!
especially when the OP says:…
OP stated those are "Example fares from the Sunshine Coast"!!
It's NOT a complete list of Bonza Destinations!
You could have searched for the list, or clicked on my link… as I suggested!
But that was obviously …too much effort as you say!
Much easier to get things wrong!!
which is all I was commenting about
You replied to my comment pointing out Bonza is to operate out of MEL (Melbourne Airport).
With… "Avalon is more regional/Geelong than it is Melb".
Think you'll find Melbourne Airport is more Melb😉
You have the choice of either, unlike other East Coast capitals!!
More fares & destinations to come, as the airline begins flights.
Welcome to the 21st century
I don't think this is an advancement, just a way for them to install nagware on your phone.
I bet this can all be done with a web browser, but as they obviously want to advertise for free to customers, they make people install the app to book the flights so they can continue to nag people into buying flights.
Have to download an app to book a flight that a website could also function for?
Thatsa yeah nah
Why would a startup small budget regional airline (with few aircraft, & few routes) go to the expense of building & maintaining a booking website, call centre, etc - as well as apps? Like the major airlines do.
It's more a niche market player. They will have done their research on this. Bonza say they don't want that many passengers.
So it wouldn't worry Bonza that some say it's too much effort to download an app!! Likely they don't want them as Bonza passengers if that's too much trouble! That chatter gets their brand noticed!!
(It's not as if apps are something new. Most regular travellers carry phones with apps. Usually much easier to use on the run, than websites.)
It's part of their marketing strategy. Be different! Not pleasing all the flying public… works well for some other budget airlines elsewhere.
As Bonza put it…
Customers can only book tickets via Bonza's mobile app or through a registered travel agent, reducing the potential number of customers.
Chief commercial officer Carly Povey defended the move to not accept bookings through a website, saying it was "quite a conscious decision".
"But that's where the travel agency portal comes into place – if they absolutely want someone to hold their hand [to make a booking] then we'd recommend that's the way they go."
They have been 'pre-selling' for ages now.
Get in the sky already so I can see VA and QA flights drop on some of these legs.
Shame that VA didn't move faster on legs like ABX/SYD ABX/MEL and others to and from rural citys, yet.
Now with the intended float back on the ASX, makes me highly cautious of throwing money at them again, especially with the likes of these guys coming.
Wonder how long all this will last before we see another run out of cash. Just don't see how AU can support this many providers with the shortage of pilots, staff and such a small population. We have seen so many try, while coming and going…
The golden tringle can only support so many PAX and demand before the seats and planes remain empty.
Impulse, JetGo, the debranding of Tiger, the historical East West, and and and… There is a reason why we (AU) cant support additional airlines. Not to mention what happened with Ansett, VA#1, Hazelton/Kendell (Ansett regional) and and and…
Anyways, just my observations and thoughts… Will be interesting to see if another can make money and survive.
You make good points, but your first line is untrue - they haven’t been “pre-selling” at all.
Thanks… not sure why my comment got down voted. ha! joys on the web world… no harm. appreciate the acknowledgement.
One thing though…
As for preselling - the point is, have then flown yet?
Are they selling tickets for future flights?
When did they start selling tickets for future flights?
Either way, i'm still going to hold my breath for this one.
When did they start selling tickets for future flights?
Just announced today - hence this Deal!
Australia's newest airline has gone live!
have then flown yet?
Today's Link in first comment:
Budget airline Bonza is selling tickets for its first flights next week.
And from today's media…
Low-cost airline Bonza starts selling tickets ahead of maiden flight on Tuesday
Bonza was granted its Air Operator Certificate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) just before 2pm on January 12. Couldn't fly before that.
Are they selling tickets for future flights?
Obviously, all Airlines can only sell tickets for future flights! So all tickets from airlines are "pre-sold". No market for tickets for past flights!
i'm still going to hold my breath for this one.
I don't believe you can hold your breath until Tuesday😂
Video, or it never happened😉
@INFIDEL: Well, I guess if I was wring then I was wrong.
I was pretty sure id see them offer tickets before. Perhaps not the case.
(Of course all tickets are pre-sales to some capacity, otherwise it would be a during or post sale). lol
Ha ha - no 'videos' here… Just youtube's. :)
@mickyb80: Hope you're still holding your breath😂
Bonza was expected to be flying last year. But approval & start up process took longer. So you may have seen the hype & speculation.
Probably best for people to pay by credit card, so can charge back if things go wrong.
Booking flights (even with existing airlines) always has some uncertainty.
I've bought tickets on new overseas routes - subject to approval. Those were always uncertain, but flew.
During COVID bought flights… one airline went into liquidation - still have voucher of uncertain value. Other flights were cancelled at short notice.
Booked a flight from Devonport to MEL (for a meeting) with a small start up operator. Noticed commotion at check-in… airline had just gone into liquidation. Tearful staff hadn't been paid. Could only buy another fare with different airline.
Had free return tickets to HK with Cathay Pacific - on condition I turn up & check if seats were available. Luckily there were.
Before discount fares, would turn up at airports & fly "stand-by". Nothing was certain.
Expect there may be some teething issues (delays, cancellations) with flights at the start of operation.
Can happen with any airline. I've sat on a plane, then told to get off… co-pilot failed to turn up!
Lost interest in Bonza - airports & routes aren't suitable for my needs.
Noticed your Profile location is "On a plane".
Happy flights!
@INFIDEL: Ha - similar here. Lost interest after the delays.
And yep, bounce the golden tringle weekly/fortnightly most of the time and OS +/- 4 or so times a year usually…
Sound's like there is another QF flight issues today too. How many is that in the last 2 weeks? 3, 4? 5?
(Sure, thankfully each have been minor and without incident…)
May be good timing for Bonza.
Fares are great and open up regional areas. Shame regional councils such as sunshine coast council don't support early flights with public transport. Little point getting a great airfare when you have to get a taxi to the airport which costs more than the flight just because of poor public transport services. Sunshine Coast council needs to show support for the airline or it will go the way of compass airlines….
I'd be surprised if this strategy worked out for them in the long run. Bonza seem to fly between small regional cities with infrequent flights. Ryanair and Wizzair are popular in Europe, because they have plenty of capacity (4+ weekly flights) and the secondary airports, which they use in Western EU countries e.g. London Luton/Stanstad, Paris Beauvais, Brussels Charleroi or Milan Bergamo are accessible within an hour or so on public transport or private bus companies from the major Eu cities. I don't think Port Macquarie, Mildura or even Sunny Coast are accessible within an hour on a bus or train from a major city. Also, the other leg of the destination served by those big guns in Europe are often from a main airport e.g. Warsaw Chopin, Athens or Barcelona.
These deals could be great for people living in country areas, but as someone from Brisbane, I don't see anything interesting, especially without Gold Coast on the list. I personally see a lot more potential in regional international flights e.g. Sunny Coast - Auckland or Darwin - Bali.
Have you read their business strategies to make such a judgement? Doesn't seem you're in their target market. (Neither am I.)
Many of their routes are not serviced by other airlines. So they can capture that small market segment.
They are a basic low cost regional airline. They don't intend on competing with established airlines. Competing didn't work out well for the failed airlines.
They have done their business plan based on requiring a relatively small number of passengers, unlike major airlines.
So suited to a limited number of flights (two and five flights a week on each of its 25 routes), small number of aircraft & staff. They have a major US investor, that is involved in the airline business.
Whether it succeeds, time will tell. After all, many thought RyanAir's very different strategy had no hope of success when it started over 30 years ago. Ryanair is now the fifth largest airline in the world (in terms of capacity)
As for using the Sunshine Coast Airport for overseas flights… It's not an international airport! That would require a very expensive upgrade!
It would then be in competition with ever expanding Brisbane International. A likely risky investment. Don't know that Palisade Investments want to do that. They acquired a 99 year lease from the council in 2017. Not too long ago that airport was just for light aircraft!
The QLD Government had to pay Low Cost Carriers hundreds of $Millions to use the Gold Coast Airport. They have been slow to resume flights after the disruption of Covid.
There are frequent complaints here in flight Deals that the Gold Coast is too inconvenient for Brisbane fliers. Upgrading capacity at Marcoola wouldn't likely suit too many in Brisbane.
Flights connecting with Melbourne are now on sale
Budget regional airline Bonza selling tickets ahead of maiden flight from Sunshine Coast
Head Office: Sunshine Coast
Based: Sunshine Coast & Melbourne airports
Flying: new 737-8 MAX aircraft.