Private equity-backed low-cost airline Bonza is still months away from take-off. And yet, it has already hit some turbulence.

Chief operating officer and co-founder Peter McNally – an alumnus of Virgin Blue’s launch who held operational roles at that airline for seven years – has already exited the would-be airline, his abrupt departure in late February raising eyebrows through the highly competitive (and extremely chatty) world of Australian aviation.