Bonza claims to be most punctual airline but won’t share data with government

Budget carrier Bonza is claiming to be the most punctual airline in the country — but won’t share that data with the government.

Low cost carrier Bonza is laying claim to the best on-time performance of any airline in the country, despite not providing information to the department that compiles monthly punctuality reports.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan told The Australian that out of 890 flights operated since

August 1, only three were cancelled.

“That represents a cancellation percentage of 0.34 per cent (which) is by far the lowest in the

Australian domestic aviation market,” said Mr Jordan.

Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics data showed the average cancellation rate across all airlines was 3.8 per cent in August with Rex the lowest on 1.8 per cent.

Mr Jordan said Bonza’s flight delays were also much improved with the budget carrier landing 79 per cent of flights on time in the last month.

No other airline recorded a better on-time percentage for arrivals, based on BITRE data.

The US-owned operation began commercial flights in late January and currently has four Boeing 737 Max 8s in its fleet, with one typically kept in reserve to cover for technical issues.

Mr Jordan acknowledged things did not always go to plan but said “it is how we show up for

customers that matters and defines us”.

Travellers subjected to delays on Bonza were given a $7 digital prepaid card to spend in

flight or at the airport for a 24-hour period.

“If a flight is cancelled Bonza customers are entitled to a full refund or replacement flight and

where required Bonza will provide accommodation, meals and transportation,” Mr Jordan

said.

The department of infrastructure, transport, regional economics, communications and the

arts said they were working with Bonza to establish data reporting.

“Any future reporting on Bonza’s on-time performance is dependent on when the required

data can be obtained,” said a department spokesperson.

Department guidelines require such information when passenger loads on particular routes

average 8000 or more over a month, and two or more airlines are in competition.

Although most of Bonza’s 38 routes were not flown by other carriers, the budget airline was currently operating or planning to fly six also serviced by either Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas or Rex.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan before the Senate inquiry into bilateral air rights. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

These included Gold Coast to Melbourne, Gold Coast-Cairns, Sunshine Coast-Melbourne, Sunshine Coast-Newcastle, Mildura-Melbourne and Melbourne-Alice Springs.

The department noted that it was authorised under the Air Navigation Regulation 2016 to collect statistical data from airlines.

“While the department endeavours to work collaboratively with airlines to make the process of collecting and sharing data in the correct format as efficient as possible, under the regulations ten penalty units can be applied if a person is convicted of the offence of failure to provide requested information within a reasonable period,” said a spokesperson.

Ten penalty units is worth the equivalent of a $3130 fine.

A Bonza spokeswoman said she was awaiting information on what routes the airlines would be required to report on to government.

Bonza axed five routes in August due to poor passenger loads but insisted other routes were performing well.

As well as flights to Mount Isa and the Northern Territory, Bonza recently announced a new Gold Coast to Launceston service starting next month.

For the upcoming summer holiday period, two aircraft wet leased from Canadian low cost carrier Flair were set to join the Bonza fleet to assist with increased flying.

Originally published as Bonza claims to be most punctual airline but won’t share data with government