New Australian budget airline Bonza hopes to start flying next year

New Australian budget airline Bonza plans to start domestic flights with two to three Boeing 737 MAX planes from Q2 next year, pending regulatory approvals, its CE said. The airline will be based in northern New South Wales or southern Queensland and focus on leisure-driven routes not served by rivals or are underserved, said Tim Jordan, Bonza's founder and CEO. Bonza, which means "excellent" in old-fashioned Australian slang, would compete against Qantas, Virgin Australia and Regional Express Holdings (Rex) in a market that lacks an independent low-cost carrier. "This is not 'me too'," Jordan said. "We are not about stealing traffic from other carriers. This is about creating a brand new market." The initial routes will be chosen in part based on which airports offer better financial incentives, he said. Bonza expects to apply for an operating licence with Australia's aviation regulator and hopes to sell tickets in Q1 2022, Jordan said. The carrier is backed by US private investment firm 777 Partners, which has an investment portfolio that includes Canadian low-cost airline Flair Airlines and in March placed an order for 24 737 MAX planes with purchase rights for 60 more. "We see huge potential in the Australian market to deliver the benefits and options that an independent low-fare airline brings," 777 Partners Managing Partner Josh Wander said.<br/>