Bonza Airways started flights in Australia in January 2023. It was promoted in its place low-cost airline that might serve underused regional routes in Australia. However is Bonza Airways actually that low-cost in comparison with different choices? I took a take a look at the way it compares:
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You possibly can solely guide flights via the app
To begin with I need to level out that you simply we are able to solely Guide flights on Bonza by downloading their app. It is a horrible thought and means you possibly can’t use a flight search engine like Google Flights to verify costs and examine routes. Clearly, Bonza hopes that folks will solely evaluation their app and never trouble wanting on the competitors’s costs.
The app is not notably good and at present has a fairly dangerous ranking on the App Retailer (2.2/5). Even Qantas, at present essentially the most hated airline/firm within the nation, has a a lot better ranking (4.8/5).
Bonza is a little bit cheaper
Bonza is a less expensive possibility for those who fly from regional cities akin to Albury. Earlier than Bonza, the one choices have been Rex and Qantas, that are pretty equally priced. So for regional areas, Bonza could possibly be less expensive.
To see how Bonza compares on a extra common route, I appeared for a flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast.
The flight with seats and suitcases was totaled as much as $354 in bonza. In Jetstar complete was $409 with seats and baggage. So Bonza turned out to be cheaper.
It is nonetheless not as low-cost as I anticipated and never akin to the prices of low cost airways in Europe.
Will Bonza be a hit?
It is too early to say whether or not Bonza will likely be a hit. As a result of they’re utilizing an app-only mannequin, they’ve definitely made issues harder. I do not see them sustaining this mannequin sooner or later. They’ve dominated out routes up to now, however have additionally introduced plans for brand new routes, so it is troublesome to guage.
It is unclear what number of losses Bonza is taking now to be worthwhile sooner or later. I can say with 100% certainty that they’re nonetheless not worthwhile. Bonza is flying new planes on routes I can not think about are full. 777 Companions, the US non-public fairness agency that owns the airline, has mentioned Bonza could possibly be worthwhile in its second 12 months. That is not going to occur.
We want extra airline competitors in Australia and Bonza is unquestionably attempting to be completely different which is an effective factor.
What do you consider Bonza? Are they right here to remain?
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