Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport general manager Kellie Banditt confirms Bonza flight cancellations this week, supports return of operations
Wellcamp Airport general manager Kellie Banditt has urged residents with tickets on Bonza flights this week not to come, while expressing hope the budget airline can takeoff again.
Toowoomba
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Toowoomba passengers with tickets booked on Bonza flights this week have been told they won’t be leaving Wellcamp Airport if they turn up to the terminal, as the future of the carrier remains in serious doubt.
Airport general manager Kellie Banditt confirmed all flights to and from Melbourne and Townsville had been cancelled this week while the low-cost airline remained in administration.
“They have been cancelled, but we don’t know anything beyond that — in regards to customers, they’ve been advised not to come to the airport,” Ms Banditt said.
It comes as administrators Hall Chadwick confirmed planes would be grounded until at least Friday while discussions continued between Bonza, stakeholders and the owners of the company’s fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
A spokesman said no refunds for immediate or future flights would be processed for now.
Affected customers can call a hotline on 03 8678 1600 or head to the website.
“The discussions regarding ongoing trading are occurring over the forthcoming days and the administrators will be in a position to update all stakeholders as the matter progresses,” the Hall Chadwick statement said.
“The administrators are conscious of the impact of the grounding of the company’s fleet and are working alongside the existing senior management of the company and the aircraft operational team in respect to ongoing trading.
“The administrators have also commenced engagement with all key stakeholders including secured creditors, government bodies, key suppliers, and contractors.”
Ms Banditt said while the future of the airline was unknown, she believed Bonza’s presence in Toowoomba had showcased a need for cheap fares.
“The biggest thing for us is since Bonza has started, it’s shown the necessity of a low-cost airline here,” she said.
“All we saw was continual growth (in ticket sales).
“Bonza has made a huge impact in a positive way, and we embraced it and welcomed it — it was a healthy competition, so it’s proved its weight in gold.”
The company saw 50,000 people travel in and out of Wellcamp during its first 12 months of operation.
Originally published as Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport general manager Kellie Banditt confirms Bonza flight cancellations this week, supports return of operations
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