Bonza Airlines permanently ceases operations following voluntary administration
By
Danielle F.
- Replies 4
The Australian skies have been dominated by key flyers, with Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia ferrying passengers across vast lands and oceans.
The promise of a new player, Bonza Airlines, sparked hope for more competition, better prices, and increased connectivity, especially for regional Australia.
However, Bonza's recent collapse sent ripples of concern through the industry and among passengers who looked forward to a new budget-friendly option for their travels.
Bonza's ambitious plan to offer cheaper flights and service routes has come to an abrupt end within 18 months of operations.
Creditors decided to liquidate Bonza's company assets after Hall Chadwick's unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer.
'The administrators ran an extensive sales campaign involving numerous investors, other airlines and companies from the travel industry,' a Hall Chadwick spokesperson said.
This decision left the airline's staff in a precarious position, with millions of dollars in entitlements still owed to them.
'The finality of Bonza's collapse is a sad event for Australia's aviation industry, but brings the certainty workers needed to access the fair entitlements guarantee scheme for their owed entitlements, including wages for work completed in April,' Transport Workers Union (TWU) National Secretary Michael Kaine said.
TWU highlighted the loss of access to 35 routes serviced by Bonza—30 of which were not serviced by Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin.
This setback highlighted the fragility of regional transport in The Land Down Under.
The TWU called for the establishment of a new commission to oversee stability, competition, and standards within the aviation industry.
The said regulatory body could play a crucial role in preventing similar collapses in the future while keeping regional communities connected.
The airline announced its voluntary administration a few months ago, immediately suspending all flights across different local destinations.
In the meantime, Bonza's liquidators will continue their investigation into the carrier's business and report their findings to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
Those who had been eagerly anticipating the launch of Bonza's services must now reassess their travel plans and potentially face higher costs with the remaining carriers.
This could lead to future action and potential claims for the benefit of creditors.
For now, the immediate future of affordable air travel in Australia seems uncertain.
Have you been affected by Bonza Airlines' collapse? What are your concerns about the future of regional travel in Australia? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
The promise of a new player, Bonza Airlines, sparked hope for more competition, better prices, and increased connectivity, especially for regional Australia.
However, Bonza's recent collapse sent ripples of concern through the industry and among passengers who looked forward to a new budget-friendly option for their travels.
Bonza's ambitious plan to offer cheaper flights and service routes has come to an abrupt end within 18 months of operations.
Creditors decided to liquidate Bonza's company assets after Hall Chadwick's unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer.
'The administrators ran an extensive sales campaign involving numerous investors, other airlines and companies from the travel industry,' a Hall Chadwick spokesperson said.
This decision left the airline's staff in a precarious position, with millions of dollars in entitlements still owed to them.
'The finality of Bonza's collapse is a sad event for Australia's aviation industry, but brings the certainty workers needed to access the fair entitlements guarantee scheme for their owed entitlements, including wages for work completed in April,' Transport Workers Union (TWU) National Secretary Michael Kaine said.
TWU highlighted the loss of access to 35 routes serviced by Bonza—30 of which were not serviced by Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin.
This setback highlighted the fragility of regional transport in The Land Down Under.
The TWU called for the establishment of a new commission to oversee stability, competition, and standards within the aviation industry.
The said regulatory body could play a crucial role in preventing similar collapses in the future while keeping regional communities connected.
The airline announced its voluntary administration a few months ago, immediately suspending all flights across different local destinations.
In the meantime, Bonza's liquidators will continue their investigation into the carrier's business and report their findings to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
Those who had been eagerly anticipating the launch of Bonza's services must now reassess their travel plans and potentially face higher costs with the remaining carriers.
This could lead to future action and potential claims for the benefit of creditors.
For now, the immediate future of affordable air travel in Australia seems uncertain.
Key Takeaways
- Budget carrier Bonza Airlines has been liquidated after unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer.
- Bonza Airlines still owes their employees millions in entitlements such as wages and redundancy payments.
- Bonza's collapse impacted regional Australia by removing access to 35 lower-cost routes not serviced by larger Australian airlines.
- The Transport Workers Union called for the creation of a new commission to oversee stability, competition, and standards in the Australian aviation industry and to address the lack of service for regional communities.