BONZA

[Greg Hyde]

Exclusive: Bonza 737 likely en-route to Australia

Bonza looks to be on the brink of launching imminently after its first 737 MAX flew from Seattle to Hawaii – likely meaning it’s en route to Australia.
Australian Aviation can reveal its first aircraft, VH-UJT, departed Seattle at 4:38 pm on 29 July and landed in Honolulu at 7:44 pm.

It comes weeks after we broke the news the budget airline was seeking 200 cabin crew to start “immediately”. The airline was originally targeting a mid-year launch, but in May hinted that was likely to have slipped back to September.

Bonza is gearing up to begin flying on 27 routes to 17 destinations in a move that could revolutionise the local industry. It’s seeking to fly “point-to-point” leisure routes not serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Rex, mostly skipping out major capital cities.

https://australianaviation.com.au/20...-to-australia/

[James Smith]

Bonza B38M as flight number AB001 is now halfway from NAN to MCY and is due to land at 9:27 according to Flightaware.

[James Smith]

AB001 has just touched down in MCY.

[Greg Hyde]

Is this the first time that 2 new aircraft types (A321Neo & B737Max8) have arrived in Australia within days of each other to enter service.

[Greg Hyde]

Touchdown! First Bonza 737 lands in Australia

Bonza has confirmed that its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has landed on the Sunshine Coast on Monday morning, as the budget startup speeds towards its commercial launch in “late” September.
It comes after Australian Aviation reported on Saturday that the jet, VH-UJT, had departed Boeing Field in Seattle, and was making its way towards Australia, via Honolulu and Nadi, as flight AB001.

It also comes just weeks after the jet took its first flight sporting freshly-painted Bonza livery last month, as it was ferried from Southern Logistics Airport in Victorville back to Boeing Field.

“We are beyond excited to welcome our first aircraft to Sunshine Coast Airport and with so much buzz around the country for Bonza, we hope today is also exciting for the communities we’ll be flying to,” said Bonza CEO Tim Jordan.

https://australianaviation.com.au/20...-in-australia/

[Greg Hyde]

Bonza's 4th MAX8 is reportedly SN61862 - LN7737 LOT - SP-LVN - N1786B

Ferried MWH-VCV for paint.

Expected to become VH-UJZ

[Greg Hyde]

Bonza's 5th MAX8 is reportedly SN43974 - LN7551 LOT - SP-LVI - N1787B

Ferried SKF-VCV for paint.

Expected to become VH-UJK

[James Smith]

Thanks Greg for your updates. Do we know what the Australian registration of SP-LVE is likely to be?

[Greg Hyde]

Not at this time.

Still at Boeing getting re-work

My "Crystal Ball" hasn't spotted that one yet (in paint)

[Greg Hyde]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

Bonza's 3rd MAX8 is SN43975 - LN7516 LOT - SP-LVH - N1786B

Ferried VCV to BFI for winglets and customer acceptance testing

So Far:

1. SN60388 - LN7591 LOT - SP-LVE - N5515X Ferried VCV to BFI (no paint)
2. SN62533 - LN7722 LOT -SP-LVO - N1786B VH-UJT
3. SN43975 - LN7516 LOT - SP-LVH - N1786B to be VH-UIK

Bonza 3 (43975) has performed another test flight at Boeing