The suspension of flights by Australian domestic operator Bonza will leave almost 30 routes unserved by other airlines, analysis by Routes has found.
The LCC operated some 30,500 seats across 164 flights to 21 destinations during the week commencing April 22—the carrier’s last full week of service prior to grounding flights on the morning of April 30—accounting for about 2% of all domestic capacity within the country. The suspension of flights is in place until at least May 2, although it remains unclear whether a restructured Bonza will emerge from a voluntary administration process.
Of the airline’s 34 nonstop routes, only five of them are currently served by other operators, OAG Schedules Analyser data shows, leaving 29 markets without nonstop air service. These sectors include Melbourne-Tamworth, Gold Coast-Mildura and Sunshine Coast-Newcastle.
The five routes that will continue to be served are Melbourne-Alice Springs, Gold Coast-Avalon, Gold Coast-Cairns, Gold Coast-Melbourne and Melbourne-Mildura.
Since Bonza commenced commercial operations using Boeing 737-8 aircraft in January 2023 after a lengthy accreditation process, the LCC’s strategy has been to focus on markets without direct service and stimulate demand through low fares. The majority of its routes have between four and six flights per week.
Bonza’s inaugural base at Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) was followed by a second base at Melbourne Airport (MEL) that opened in late March 2023. By May, the airline’s network had grown to 17 domestic destinations and 27 routes.
After cutting several services during July and August—including dropping the likes of Sunshine Coast-Coffs Harbour, Cairns-Mackay and Whitsunday Coast-Toowoomba Wellcamp—a renewed network expansion was made from November in time for Australia’s peak summer season.
The airline opened a third base at Gold Coast Airport (OOL), adding 11 routes to existing destinations. The move saw Bonza increase its network to 36 nonstop routes by the end of the year, operating about 36,000 weekly seats across 194 flights.
As reported by Aviation Week, Bonza said that “discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business.” Administrators from accountancy firm Hall Chadwick have been appointed to handle the company’s affairs.
A prolonged or permanent suspension of flights will be keenly felt at Sunshine Coast Airport, where Bonza accounted for 26.7% of all available capacity during the week commencing April 22. The LCC was the airport’s second-largest operator, behind Jetstar on 35.6%.
At Melbourne Airport—Bonza’s second-largest base—the airline had a 1.1% capacity share, while at Gold Coast Airport it accounted for 5% of the market. Other airports that could be most affected are Toowoomba Wellcamp, where Bonza had a 59.2% share of departure seats, as well as Mildura and Albury, where it accounted for more than a quarter of all seats.
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