It’s bye bye Bonza as removal of aircraft from Australia begins

The first of five Bonza aircraft is set to vanish from Australian skies after being repossessed by lessors taking them to a mystery destination.

The first of five former Bonza aircraft has headed out of the country bound initially for Honolulu.

The co-branded Flair and Bonza Airlines aircraft named “Bruce” took off just after 9am from the Sunshine Coast Airport.

It was expected the purple plane would refuel in Honolulu before continuing to its final destination, which was at this stage unknown.

Four other Boeing 737 Max 8s parked on the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and at Melbourne Airport would likely soon follow after being repossessed by lessor AIP Capital.

The midnight repossession on April 29 apparently took Bonza management by surprise, despite growing concern the airline’s owners 777 Partners had stopped paying for the leases.

Former Virgin Blue pilot and ex-RAAF test pilot Jeremy de Lore has been tasked with the job of transitioning the aircraft between operators.

Former RAAF test pilot Jeremy De Lore has been hired by AIP Capital to take former Bonza aircraft out of Australia.

The move is the latest in a series of blows for Bonza which appointed administrators Hall Chadwick shortly after the leases on its aircraft were terminated.

A creditors meeting is due to take place on Friday in Sydney, to update around 60,000 creditors, including 58,000 customers, 323 employees and 120 traders including catering company data.

A Federal Court hearing on Thursday was told to date only 1888 creditors had provided “proof of debt” so numbers at the meeting may be lower than anticipated.

Barrister James Hutton SC for Hall Chadwick and Bonza, said the meeting would be conducted via Zoom, with creditors able to get a link once their email address was verified.

He conceded the process could take some time, depending on how many creditors seek to virtually attend the meeting.

Hall Chadwick is yet to provide details of Bonza’s financial liabilities but they are believed to be desperate.

Employees have been told they would not be paid for their work in April, and customers are unable to be refunded for fares paid on cancelled flights.

All but 21 of the 323 staff remain stood down without pay until at least May 14.

Bonza was first launched in October 2021 but did not begin commercial flights until early 2023, after delays in receiving an air operators certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

CEO Tim Jordan had expected to have ten Boeing 737 Max 8s in the Bonza fleet by the end of the first year of operation but deliveries soon stalled.

Miami-based 777 Partners have not commented on the Bonza administration.