Bonza Receives Approval for Wet-Lease Plans, Resumes Expansion at Gold Coast Coolangatta

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has granted approval to Bonza, allowing the airline to proceed with its wet-lease plans for two B737-8s over the Southern Hemisphere summer of 2023/24. The move revives Bonza’s efforts to establish Gold Coast Coolangatta as a significant network hub.

Earlier disruptions occurred when Bonza, seeking to turn Gold Coast Coolangatta into a major hub, faced regulatory challenges, resulting in numerous flight cancellations during the initial stages of its expansion. The airline, having sourced B737-8s from Flair Airlines in Canada, had to cancel flights and defer new route launches due to the regulatory setbacks.

CASA confirmed the recent approvals on December 19, 2023, following Bonza’s demonstration of the safe integration of the Canadian-registered aircraft and crew members into its operations. Both Flair B737-8s are currently stationed at Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport, with the second aircraft arriving on December 15.

Bonza, which had initially planned 14 new routes from Gold Coast Coolangatta, aims to resume its expansion and leverage the wet-leased aircraft to complement its existing fleet. The airline operates a mix of dry-leased and wet-leased B737-8s, serving a network of 38 routes to 21 destinations from bases in Gold Coast Coolangatta, Sunshine Coast, and Melbourne Tullamarine. The recent approvals signal a positive turn for Bonza, allowing it to scale up its operations and move forward with its growth plans.