The Australian budget airline Bonza has recently suspended all its flights, leaving passengers stranded and questioning the future of the airline. This abrupt decision has caused significant disruption to domestic travel, with reports emerging that the airline's fleet of Boeing 737-MAX-8 aircraft have been repossessed by creditors. Bonza, which services regional centers including Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, and Gladstone, canceled all flights on Tuesday. Passengers were left stranded at a handful of airports when Bonza “temporarily suspended” all services due to be operated on Tuesday with no notice. The sudden cancellations have led to widespread confusion and frustration among passengers, many of whom were left without any information about their flights' status.
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The airline's CEO, Tim Jordan, said in a statement that "discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business". He apologized to the customers impacted by this decision and assured them that the company is working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward. The aim is to ensure there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market. Shortly after the cancellations were reported, the transport minister, Catherine King, said her department had contacted Bonza and that “our expectation is that they keep passengers informed of their options and their consumer rights”. The transport department was establishing a hotline on Tuesday morning for stranded Bonza passengers. “I have spoken to Qantas and Virgin CEOs this morning and both airlines stand ready to assist stranded passengers needing to get home,” King said.
Aviation sources told the Guardian that Bonza’s fleet of Boeing 737-Max 8 aircraft had been repossessed. Bonza’s private equity owners, US firm 777 Partners, own the airline’s fleet of Boeing 737-Max 8 aircraft. The parent company also part owns Canadian low-cost carrier Flair, and leases its aircraft assets between the airlines. Flair had some of its aircraft repossessed at short notice in 2023. Bonza had been operating two aircraft wet-leased from Flair in recent months, in addition to its fleet of four aircraft.
This financial upheaval follows earlier reports from The Australian Financial Review, which Bonza initially denied, suggesting financial distress within the airline. The spokesperson for 777 Partners had previously affirmed ongoing financial support for Bonza despite the shift in aircraft ownership due to creditor demands. The repossessions are not the first for 777 Partners, which faced similar issues last year when aircraft leased to another carrier, Flair Airlines in Canada, were seized over unpaid fees. The situation remains fluid, with potential implications for travelers and the airline’s future operations travelers. As Bonza grapples with these operational and financial challenges, the future of this airline, which had aimed to serve leisure destinations less frequented by major carriers, hangs in the balance.