BUDGET airline Bonza has cancelled all its flights across the country and entered voluntary administration, grounding Mildura services from Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
All of the airline’s Tuesday flights were cancelled and a spokesperson for Mildura Airport said it had received information there would be no flights for the rest of the week.
It was then announced late yesterday afternoon that the airline had entered voluntary administration.
Multiple media outlets reported that Bonza’s Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft had been repossessed by AIP Capital, which had been 51 per cent owners of planes.
Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan confirmed the airline had “temporarily suspended services”.
“Discussions are currently under way regarding the ongoing viability of the business,” he said.
“We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market.”
Mildura Airport chief executive Trevor Willcock said as of yesterday afternoon staff didn’t know much more about the situation.
“We have posted all the information we know on our social media and website,” he said.
“We’ve had nothing official from Bonza themselves at this stage, we just learned of the cancelled flights through the ground handlers.”
Mildura mum Karina Lee had spent the past eight months saving and planning her family holiday to the Gold Coast, meant to start with a Bonza flight today.
Desperate not to miss out completely, Ms Lee opted to start driving last night to ensure booked accommodation would not be impacted.
She said she hoped the airline would provide a refund.
“It’s a nightmare to say the least,” Ms Lee said.
“Just to add to the confusion, our flight booked from Mildura to the Gold Coast is still showing as ‘booked’, and I have received no information, so I am unsure what is happening really.”
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the cancellations placed serious doubts on Bonza’s future.
“I certainly hope Bonza can find a way through this, because Sunraysia gained so much from their services,” she said.
“It is important for Mildura people to have equitable access to low-cost travel, which Bonza was able to provide.”
Federal transport minister Catherine King said a hotline for stranded passengers had been created.
“My department has reached out to Bonza and our expectation is that they keep passengers informed of their options and their consumer rights,” she said.
“I have spoken to Qantas and Virgin CEOs this morning and both airlines stand ready to assist stranded passengers needing to get home.”
The hotline number for affected passengers is 1800 069 244.
