Bonza collapse would cost Qld businesses millions, cause job losses

Queensland businesses stand to lose millions of dollars if Bonza can’t rise from the ashes of its collapse, but they’re not the only Sunshine State victims who would suffer.

Queensland businesses stand to lose millions of dollars if Bonza can’t rise from the ashes of its collapse.

On the Sunshine Coast alone, several local enterprises had secured lucrative on-board partnerships with Bonza, with those revenue streams evaporating overnight.

Business owners are praying for a resurrection for the troubled operator, whose fleet will remain grounded until at least Wednesday as administrators Hall Chadwick continue to pore over the airline’s finances.

They are not the only losers out of the sorry saga, with businesses on the Sunshine Coast employing dozens of workers also left in the lurch.

Spirit makers Sunshine & Sons sold more than 100,000 serves of their award-winning liquor in Bonza’s first year of operation and the outfit’s Nil Desperandum “Special” Rum 50ml spout pouch has been short-listed as best on-board beverage at the world Onboard Hospitality Awards to be announced in Hamburg, Germany, later this month.

Founder of Sunshine & Sons Distillery at Woombye, Matt Hobson. Picture: Richard Walker

It would be a bittersweet award if it was no longer being sold on an airline that no longer exists.

Sunshine & Sons founder Matt Hobson said he was clinging to the hope that Bonza’s administrators can salvage the airline.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed,” he said.

“Business is tough and we had a really good thing going with Bonza and if they don’t return, it’s all gone and you have to find some other way to make money.”

A former airline executive, Mr Hobson said he was under no illusions how difficult it would be for Bonza to recover.

“It was always going to be challenging as a start-up and having such a small fleet was not viable long-term, but we were hopeful they would continue to grow and we’d obviously love to see them bounce back.”

Several other food and drink suppliers on the Sunshine Coast also have contracts with Bonza to stock their wares on fights.