Budget airline Bonza grounded amid discussions about future ‘viability’

Virgin airlines has offered complimentary seats to passengers left stranded after budget carrier Bonza grounded flights across the country amid discussion about its future.

In a statement to X, formerly Twitter, Virgin Australia said it was aware of the “temporary suspension” of all Bonza flights and would offer support to impacted customers.

“We will immediately support any passengers stranded mid-journey by offering complimentary seats on Virgin Australia-operated flights to the airport nearest to their final planned Bonza destination,” the statement said.

Impacted customers already at an airport were urged to see out a Virgin Australia customer service representative or call the guest contact centre.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan earlier apologised to affected travellers on the carrier in a statement to Today, but was unable to confirm if or when operations would resume.

“Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated today, as discussions are currently under way regarding the ongoing viability of the business,” he said.

“We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition.”

At least nine flights in and out of Queensland’s busy tourism airports at the Gold and Sunshine Coasts were nixed on Tuesday following similar cancellations on Monday.

Flights either to or from Avalon, Launceston, Proserpine, Newcastle, and Rockhampton were impacted, with about nine flights listed as going ahead throughout the day.

Passenger Tracey Hilbert was supposed to fly with Bonza after her father died overnight but instead was stranded at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport on Tuesday.

“I needed to get up there because my brother texted me and said that (her father) was not in a good way,” Ms Hilbert told Today’s Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.

“Last night, my husband booked me a ticket with Bonza. I’ve never had this problem with them. It’s only a two-hour flight. It’s going to take me all day to get there.”

Ms Hilbert said carriers Jetstar and Virgin had come to her aid but was unable to talk to anyone directly at Bonza about a refund, only by email.

Flight Centre chief executive Graham Turner told the Today show that the travel agency had also attempted to get into contact with Bonza that morning but was unable to.

“With all these cancellations, not just this morning … The news doesn’t look that good, but we haven’t heard anything official yet,” Mr Turner said.

“One of the problems with the domestic aviation industry in Australia, two main domestic carriers is all that the market can stand.”

Customers took to Facebook group “Scum of the Air” to vent frustration at the cuts this week, with some people forced to rebook flights with another airline.

“Just cancelled from Gold Coast to Launceston. We were at the gate. No alternative. Just bugger off. Had to spend $526 on Virgin to get home,” one person said.

Other customers called for refunds to be made available rather than credit given to impacted travellers, while another simply added: “Bonza. Dead to us.”

The flight chaos comes after a turbulent few months for the infant airline that launched in January 2023 on niche tourist routes.

Since then, Bonza has faced criticism over its now-improved reliability, repeated route cancellations, and the stalling of sister carrier Flair.

A Flair plane sat idle on the Gold Coast airport tarmac for weeks while Bonza awaited approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Speaking on reduced routes to and from Launceston, Tasmania, Bonza told Tasmania Pulse it was responding to “market demands”.

Bonza has been contacted for comment.