Bonza the ‘bogan’ airline has had a tough year – but it may finally be about to take off

Bonza, the soon-to-launch airline branding itself as a “bogan” carrier offering ultra-low-cost air fares and purple budgie smugglers, will be seriously tested by the soaring cost of jet fuel, experts say, as the carrier enters the final stage of regulatory approval. Almost a year after it hoped to be in the skies, Bonza has begun conducting proving flights from Sunshine Coast airport to demonstrate to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) that its systems and processes are ready to enter the market, after it submitted key components of its application to the regulator in the days before Christmas, Guardian Australia understands. Casa says it will make a decision after the proving flights are completed in early January. Bonza generated headlines in October 2021 when it announced its intention to become Australia’s first ultra-low-cost carrier, with hopes to begin flying by early 2022. Its CE, Tim Jordan, said Bonza would focus mostly on leisure destinations and routes without an existing non-stop service, and would avoid flights between capital cities. After issuing a call out to regional councils to gauge their interest in attracting the airline’s services, it has set up its base on the Sunshine Coast. It initially plans to offer services to 17 airports, including Cairns, the Whitsunday Coast, Melbourne, Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Mildura – but not Sydney. Bonza is backed by the US private investment firm 777 Partners, which funds several budget carriers around the world. The firm plans to lease to Bonza eight Boeing 737-8 Max planes – it has already received three, which it named Sheila, Shazza and Bazza.<br/>