BONZA

[Radi K]

Some background as to why these planes never came to Bonza. 777 partners sold them.

https://www.afr.com/companies/transp...0230526-p5dbil

[Greg Hyde]

Two Bonza-branded planes are jetting around Europe for the Warsaw-based charter airline Enter Air, as supply chain issues at manufacturers Boeing and Airbus collide with resurgent global travel demand.

The Boeing 737-8 MAX jets – registered to fly in Australia until late last year – landed at Warsaw Chopin Airport this week sporting Bonza’s purple livery and its slogan: “Here for Allstralia.”

The aircraft will be flown by Enter Air as it looks to respond to demand over the northern summer.

Enter Air it did not have time to repaint the aircraft in its own livery. Piotr Bożyk
Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey said there were no changes to the airline’s expansion plans despite its planes being diverted to Europe.
She told AFR Weekend that its owner and primary lessor, 777 Partners, had sold the planes before Bonza was licensed to operate in Australia. “The buying and selling isn’t unusual in terms of fleet management,” she said.

777 Partners sold seven of its Boeing jets destined for Bonza and its Canadian low-cost airline Flair to North American leasing firm BBAM last year after a slowdown in demand at Flair and delays in Bonza’s licence.

“Now that we have our [operating licence], we have four aircraft in Australia operating our 27 routes,” Ms Povey said.

“Our growth plans remain the same and, having just completed our route map rollout on Tuesday, we’re now very focused on earning the respect of Aussie travellers.”
Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan has said the airline would fly up to eight planes within its first year of operation. Bonza launched in late January out of the Sunshine Coast, and opened its Melbourne base in March.

The airline has a fifth aircraft on order, but more could be hard to come by as demand for planes soars, even as supply chain issues at manufacturers Boeing and Airbus delay deliveries.

Virgin Australia is still waiting for word from Boeing on when it will receive the first of eight 737-8 MAX jets after the manufacturer said there would be delays in its order book due to issues with one of its suppliers.

While the aircraft were meant to be used on its new Cairns-Tokyo route from late June, Virgin is having to launch the trip with its older, smaller 737-700 aircraft.

Qantas has also cited the supply chain crunch as a reason for its decision to wet-lease two Airbus A330s from Finland’s Finnair, with outgoing CEO Alan Joyce saying these planes were “rare” to come by. Wet-leasing is where one airline provides the aircraft and crew for another to operate under its name.

Enter Air chief executive Grzegorz Polaniecki told Polish media that due to a long delay in receiving the planes and a busy travel period, the airline did not have time to repaint the aircraft originally meant for Bonza.

The planes are two of three that Bonza has given away in recent times, after The Australian Financial Review revealed 777 Partners had re-directed another jet to its Canadian carrier Flair in April.

The redirection came after aircraft lessors repossessed four of Flair’s 18 planes, alleging the airline had fallen behind on its payments. 777 Partners owns 25 per cent of Flair.
Bonza is expected to run 24 flights a week with its two Victorian-based jets. The carrier’s other base is on the Sunshine Coast.

The company does not plan to service the lucrative and competitive routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and instead will try to stimulate demand in underserved regional markets by flying direct to tourism hotspots.
In an interview with the Financial Review in February, 777 Partners founder Steve Pasko cited Flair’s success as one reason the private equity group was interested in investing in a budget carrier in Australia.

“Prior to the pandemic, we were able to show that we could grow the Canadian market quite substantially by offering fares that were 40 per cent to 50 per cent lower than the incumbents,” he said.

“That’s what drove us to Australia. We think we can do the same thing.”
The airline only this week started operating on all 27 routes to 17 destinations that it had flagged as part of its launch plans.

Ms Povey said the event was “historic” and marked “the finish line for our initial rollout and the start line for Bonza earning the right to grow”. She said demand was strong for the group’s unconventional routes.

“As the Australian winter fast approaches, forward bookings including the July school holidays and June public holiday weekend are also looking strong as Victorians appear eager to escape the winter chill for the warmth of Queensland,” she said.

”Bonza does not have any flights to or from Sydney – something it has blamed on high airport charges and the unique slots regulation at the gateway.
Melbourne Airport boss Lorie Argus said she was “thrilled to be the only capital city to feature in Bonza’s launch network”.

[Greg Hyde]

For those playing at home:

VH-UBI -> SP-EXE
VH-UJZ -> SP-EXF

[Sean L]

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10968077
SP-EXF with enter air decals

[MarkR]

Flair took delivery this week of the former VH-UMQ

[Stirling D]

Just announced a Gold Coast base, opening in November.
Flying to Albury, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne Avalon, Melbourne Tullamarine, Mildura, Rockhampton, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.

[MarkR]

https://www.flybonza.com/media/bonza...coast-airport/

Two aircraft wet leased

[Adrian B]

Lets hope they get the timings right on the Avalon runs. Thursday AVV to MCY with return options of 11am Saturday morning or Tuesday doesn't attract the weekend escapees.

[Tristan S]

Have read that Nauru will provide the aircraft.. not sure a 23/26 year old 737-300 has the same pull as a brand new (or close enough) MAX but hey

[Greg Hyde]

There is word that they might do a deal with Flair during the northern winter.