Jetstar’s desperate plea to passengers

Jetstar has issued an urgent reminder to passengers of embattled airline Bonza to take up the airline on a specific offer before this weekend.

Jetstar and Qantas are urgently reminding Bonza customers and staff who were offered free flights to use up the offer before this weekend.

In April, just 14-months after Bonza officially launched, it entered into voluntary administration with flights slashed across the country.

As a result, hundreds of passengers were left stranded and major Aussie airlines, such as Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia all stepped in to provide free flights to affected customers.

Jetstar and Qantas are reminding Bonza passengers who booked flights with the airline that their free flights offer is still available – but it ends on Sunday.

Four days to go for Jetstar and Qantas’ offer of free flights for Bonza customers. Picture: Jetstar.

“We would like to remind Bonza customers who have yet to come forward to take up our offer of free flights by 30 June,” a Jetstar spokesperson told news.com.au.

Essentially, customers just need to show a proof of booking or confirmation and they will be accommodated by the two airlines at no cost.

Of Bonza’s 36 routes, there are six overlapping routes with either Jetstar or Qantas including Melbourne to Gold Coast (Jetstar), Melbourne to Sunshine Coast (Jetstar) and Melbourne to Alice Springs (Qantas).

“If there is another close alternative route that Jetstar or Qantas operate, customers with a cancelled Bonza flight can also travel at no cost (e.g. Brisbane as an alternative to Gold Coast, or Melbourne as an alternative to Avalon),” its April statement read.

Grounded Bonza planes at Sunshine Coast airport. Picture Lachie Millard

More than 25,000 passengers have already been re-accommodated on Jetstar and Qantas services at no cost since Bonza stopped flying six weeks ago, with passengers provided seats on six overlapping routes or the closest alternative route.

“Any remaining Bonza customers seeking support to arrange a replacement flight can contact the Jetstar or Qantas customer care teams. Customers have until 30 June 2024 to claim the offer and make a forward booking,” another statement read.

Jetstar has also set up a dedicated page for Bonza’s employees on its careers site and are working with those who have contacted the airline about opportunities across the business.

Meanwhile, according to Bonza's administrators, Hall Chadwick, the collapsed airline likely traded while insolvent with its four directors to be referred to the corporate regulator for possible investigation.

The ABC reported Bonza is likely to be liquidated at a creditors meeting to be held next week.

Creditors, including 323 staff and 71,399 customers, could walk away with nothing, the publication reported.

It comes as Hall Chadwick released a damning 129-page creditors report that revealed Bonza had “significant” solvency and operational concerns as far back as November.