Jetstar offering special fares for Bonza customers affected by Avalon cancellations

A rival airline is offering special fares to affected customers after Bonza cancelled flights to the Gold Coast from Avalon.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan. Photo: News Corp Australia

Jetstar has come to the aid of customers left in the lurch after embattled budget airline Bonza cancelled flights between Avalon and the Gold Coast, with the carrier unable to say when the new route will finally launch.

According to Jetstar, passengers booked on Bonza flights between Gold Coast and Avalon until the end of the year, who have received notification their Bonza flight has been cancelled, are being offered special fares – $117 one way from now until December 31.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and advise if there are additional alternative options for passengers impacted by other Bonza route suspensions,” Jetstar said in a statement.

Bonza announced in August it would fly between Avalon and the Gold Coast before Christmas, with ticket prices ranging from $49-79 per person each way.

But this week the Bonza flights were cancelled, throwing holiday plans into disarray.

Bonza chief executive officer Tim Jordan blamed the cancellations on aircraft availability.

“As we’ve previously shared, in the short term we will use an aircraft leased from our partner Flair at our Gold Coast base whilst we recruit Aussie crew for this third base,” Mr Jordan said.

“This arrangement brings with it a separate regulatory approval process.

“That process is progressing but is not yet complete and, as a result, we’ve had to make the regrettable decision to defer some routes to/from the Gold Coast including Avalon.”

The airline, which launched in February this year, has been operating flights between Avalon and the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Jordan said a new start date for the impacted routes was “being worked through”.

He said the airline remained “very committed” to servicing the Victorian market.

“At this point our priority is to inform our impacted customers as efficiently as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements,” he said.

“Customers will be contacted by us in date order (based on their date of travel) and will be automatically offered a full refund.”

Mr Jordan said 439 Avalon customers had been offered a full refund.

“We are acutely aware of the impact this has on our customers and we are very sorry for this,” he said.

The cancellations come days after Bonza was forced to cancel flights between Darwin and the Gold Coast, with that route now expected to begin on January 2 next year.

Bonza is backed by 777 Partners, a Miami-based private equity group which also owns Canadian budget airline Flair.

The airline aims to fly routes not well serviced by other airlines.

Bonza and Jetstar are the only airlines flying in and out of Avalon Airport.

Avalon Airport referred comment to Bonza.

Originally published as Jetstar offering special fares for Bonza customers affected by Avalon cancellations