Thursday, January 4, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Bonza In Hot Water With Holiday Cancellations

Budget airline Bonza is in hot water, with a series Christmas and New Year flight cancellations, disrupting holiday plans and causing chaos for travellers.

Earlier in 2023, Bonza announced a new airline hub in the Gold Coast, connecting much of east coast Australia with affordable flights, however, the launch flight from Whitsunday Coast Airport, scheduled for December 7, was postponed a number of times, before the airline was successful able to take to the airs.

Initially, the delays were due to Bonza leasing two Canadian planes and crew, and the necessary checks required from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

However, the eventual approval received for these two aircrafts has a caveat.

Bonza is only able to utilise these planes until March 2024.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan said that “Bonza has received regulatory approval for the two additional aircraft to service flights out of our Gold Coast base.”

“And we’re scaling up our operations so we can service new routes like Mackay and Whitsundays. We’re committed to the Mackay and Whitsundays region and will remain focused on delivering low-cost air travel that is reliable and refreshingly different for our customers,” he said.

“Aviation in Australia is just about the most concentrated business sector in Australia with 94 per cent in the hands of two airline groups, an effective duopoly. We’re really in a Shazza vs Goliath battle to get more choice and lower fares to Australians. However, that road won’t be easy and occasionally we’ll get things wrong, and we will learn from that.”

Bonza cancelled a series of flights from the region, disrupting holiday plans. Image supplied

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