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| Image: Bonza |
Australian start-up Bonza has announced it will, subject to regulatory approval, operate up to eight aircraft in its first 12 months of operation. Speaking at the CAPA Australia Pacific 2021 Aviation Summit in Sydney, CEO Tim Jordan is expected to share the low-cost carrier’s commitment to better connect Australia, including the regions, with this latest announcement.
The aircraft will be the 737 MAX 8 and they’ll be leased from 777 Partners – Bonza’s investors who operate their own leasing company. With Bonza currently in discussions with many airports around Australia, an announcement of initial routes and aircraft bases are expected to follow over the coming weeks.
Boeing announced last week that Miami-based 777 Partners had agreed to purchase 30 more 737 MAX jets that would nearly double the private-equity firm’s order book for the aircraft. The order, valued at US$3.7 billion at list prices, comes as a potential boost for the planemaker, which said last month that it had delivered 212 737 MAX jets this year, while its larger 787 aircraft remains sidelined due to production problems.
“We are thrilled to share our commitment to operating up to eight aircraft within the first 12 months of operation. This is another way in which we are focussed on creating new market growth opportunities for regional Australian destinations, better connecting all of Australia, and in turn, stimulating direct and indirect job opportunities for the aviation and tourism industry,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.
The aircraft will each have 186 economy seats onboard and are highly fuel-efficient which will help keep fares low for future Bonza travellers, while also critically delivering less emissions than older aircraft. Jordan will also join a panel discussion at today’s industry summit on the domestic market outlook including airline competition and new routes.
“Today is an exciting day for Bonza. We are very happy and humbled to be attending the Summit to discuss the next phase of the aviation and tourism sector’s rebound,” added Jordan.
Last week, Bonza announced several key hires including its Head of People and Culture, Head of Flying Operations, Head of Airport Operations, Head of Engineering and Maintenance and Head of Finance. Those appointments Tim Jordan as CEO, Carly Povey as Chief Commercial Officer, Peter McNally as Chief Operating Officer and Lidia Valenzuela as Chief Financial Officer.