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Bonza’s first wet-leased aircraft has arrived in Australia ahead of the opening of its Gold Coast base.
The 737 MAX 8 (similar aircraft pictured), registered C-FLKC, touched down at around 8:40 on Friday night as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Bonza’s sister Canadian airline, Flair, that will see Bonza send its own aircraft to Canada during the North American peak season once it has a larger fleet in its own right.
“We are very excited to welcome our first aircraft, leased from Flair, which will be temporarily part of our purple family on the Gold Coast. Our Canadian mates will be helping us launch our Gold Coast base just in time for the super peak holiday season,” said Bonza chief executive officer Tim Jordan.
“The strategic arrangement will see us lease aircraft from Flair and induct some of their crew and pilots into our Bonza family to call the Gold Coast home until February.”
Flair, which is part-owned by Bonza investor 777 Partners, has 18 aircraft but will send two to join Bonza’s fleet this spring to support its new Gold Coast base.
“In the Northern Hemisphere, during the winter months, domestic demand is lower, but sun destinations remain popular, and the reverse is true in the spring, summer and fall,” said Flair in a statement in August.
“With that in mind, we have entered a strategic and reciprocal partnership with Bonza – Australia’s newest low-cost carrier.
“We will temporarily lease two aircraft to Bonza in late fall that will allow them to kickstart operations out of a new base for the peak Australian summer holiday season.
“This is a reciprocal partnership that both airlines intend to leverage for many years to come.”
Bonza’s Gold Coast base will officially launch on Wednesday, with the first flight to take off for Townsville at 9am.
