Bonza responds after online outrage over cancelled flights

A Sunshine Coast-based airline has “deeply apologised” after revealing thousands of customers have been affected by axed flight destinations across the country.

Bonza Airlines has axed several flights.

A Sunshine Coast-based airline has “deeply apologised” to customers affected after the company axed a number of flight destinations.

Bonza, a low-cost airline, made headlines after it was announced they were cutting five routes and reducing the frequency of flights due to poor demand.

The company launched its first flights less than six months ago.

Routes axed from August 1 included the Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Tamworth routes, plus Cairns to Mackay and Toowoomba to the Whitsundays.

The company said in an open letter to their customers on July 12 those affected by the changes would be contacted by the support team.

But several customers took to social media to express their frustrations at having travel plans cancelled after booking flights.

The Chief Commercial Officer of Bonza airlines has “deeply apologised” after it was revealed more than 2,000 customers were affected by changes to their flights.

One such person was Kerri Schlomm who said her brother had missed coming to visit her after flights from Coffs Harbour to the Sunshine Coast were axed.

“Tickets were booked (and) then they cancelled,” she said online.

Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey said the team had begun contacting customers affected by the changes.

“There are 2226 customers affected, and we are well under way with contacting those customers and expect to have this finalised early next week. We will automatically refund those customers,” she said.

Ms Povey “deeply apologised” to those whose travel plans had been affected by the changes.

“We continue to see high demand for the 10 routes still available from the Sunshine Coast with more than 145,000 seats still flown in and out of the region,” she said.

“The Sunshine Coast community has embraced Bonza since we announced the region as our home base and we know long-term success is a win for Bonza and a win for the region we are so proud to call home.

“We know that customers who have flown with us have a Bonza time on-board so our mission is to ensure that we deliver for everyone that books with us.”