Bonza Faces Setbacks in Fleet Expansion Due to Aircraft Registration and Availability Issues

Bonza, Australia’s newest airline based at Sunshine Coast, is experiencing significant delays in expanding its fleet due to regulatory and logistical challenges. The airline initially wet-leased two Boeing 737-8s, C-FLHI (msn 61804) and C-FLKC (61807), from Flair Airlines during the 2023-24 Southern Hemisphere summer, with plans to transition these to dry leases for more operational control.

The transition strategy involved replacing Flair’s crews with Bonza’s own, keeping the aircraft in Australia, and re-registering them with local VH- registrations. This move aimed to alleviate aircraft shortages and bolster Bonza’s service capacity as it ramped up operations since its inception in early 2023. 777 Partners, which holds equity interests in both Bonza and Flair Airlines, facilitated the initial arrangement.

However, this plan has encountered hurdles, notably with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The process to secure CASA approvals has proven more protracted than anticipated, impacting the commencement of operations at Bonza’s new base at Gold Coast Coolangatta and the broader network schedule. One of the aircraft, C-FLKC, has already returned to Canada and resumed operations with Flair, while C-FLHI remains parked at Sunshine Coast Airport since March 1, awaiting the completion of its registration change.

The delay in securing the necessary regulatory approvals has forced Bonza to adjust its operational strategy significantly. Nauru Airlines briefly provided a wet-leased Boeing 737-300 to fill the capacity void left by the unavailability of the MAX 8s, though this arrangement has since concluded.

As a result of these aircraft availability issues, Bonza has had to scale back its flight schedules, particularly from Gold Coast Coolangatta, affecting several routes:

• Gold Coast – Cairns reduced from five to three weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Mackay cut from three to two weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Townsville decreased from five to three weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Proserpine reduced from three to two weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Launceston cut from three to two weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Melbourne Avalon reduced from three to two weekly roundtrips.
• Gold Coast – Melbourne Tullamarine decreased from four weekly roundtrips to one.

Despite these challenges, Bonza maintains its existing flight frequencies to other destinations such as Mount Isa, Mildura, Albury, Darwin, and Rockhampton, albeit with some schedule adjustments.

These developments highlight the complexities new airlines face when scaling operations, particularly regarding fleet management and regulatory compliance. Bonza continues to navigate these challenges as it seeks to establish a stronger foothold in the competitive Australian aviation market.