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Bonza’s repossessed aircraft begin flying to new bases beyond Australia
May 10th 2024
Bonza's fleet is departing Australia after five aircraft were repossessed by the lessor, AIP Capital. Read More » The first leased 737MAX 8, "Bruce", took off from Sunshine Coast Airport in southern Queensland on May 9 headed for Honolulu and onto an undisclosed final destination. The aircraft is co-owned by Canadian carrier, Flair. At press time, Bonza’s administrator, Hall Chadwick, was conducting a virtual meeting with an estimated 60,000 creditors, which a union delegate said could “fill a stadium”. Earlier this week, Bonza CEO, Tim Jordan, in an email to staff, said “no legal intervention to keep the aircraft had been deemed possible and the planes would be leaving their Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Melbourne bases”. Approximately 320 staff, 120 trade creditors and around 60,000 passengers with paid Bonza tickets were told fare refunds and settlement of monthly costs will not be possible for now. Hall Chadwick said it is continuing to seek investors to allow the domestic LCC to return to flying.
