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Bonza staff and enthusiasts appear to be snapping up scale models of the airline’s planes as the real fleet continues to sit on the tarmac.
Collectors Aircraft Models Australia, a model aircraft store, has seen a surge in demand since the airline called in administrators last week, with a significant portion of sales from the carrier’s base on the Sunshine Coast.
“Five unique models in 1:400 scale were made last year across three brands to meet the relatively high demand. From Jan 1 to April 29 this year, we sold 13 Bonza model aircraft via our online store,” owner Tom Russell told Australian Aviation.
“However, in the 96 hours after it was announced that Bonza was entering voluntary administration, we sold 63 Bonza model aircraft. Notably, over 25 per cent of these orders were to addresses in the Sunshine Coast region.”
At the time of writing, only one Bonza model is currently in stock on the Collectors Aircraft Models Australia website: a Gemini Jets 1/200 scale model of VH-UJK “Sheila,” which is on sale for $189.
“We have been able to secure a shipment of 24 1:400 scale models. However, they will not arrive until late May, and we have been told that this is the final stock of Bonza models,” said Russell.
“I guess the writing on the wall is that if Bonza does not return as an operational airline, we are unlikely to see another Bonza model aircraft.”
The first of Bonza’s aircraft, C-FLHI “Bruce”, has this week left Australia bound for North America, though this was one of the two planes Bonza was dry-leasing from Canadian sister airline Flair; the other, C-FLKC “Matilda”, had already returned for what was to be a temporary arrangement operating Flair flights.
The remaining four planes, VH-UIK “Bazza”, VH-UJT “Shazza”, VH-UJK “Sheila”, and VH-UKH “Malc”, are still in Australia as of Thursday 9 May, though administrators Hall Chadwick admitted this week they would be unable to prevent the 737 MAX 8 aircraft from leaving the country if the lessors choose to move them.
“The administrators have been in discussions with the lessors of the aircraft in order to determine whether the grounded aircraft could become operational in the short term,” said Hall Chadwick in a statement.
“The administrators have regretfully been advised that the lessors will continue to enforce their rights under the termination notices and, subject to their own requirements and arrangements, seek to reposition the fleet elsewhere.”
Hall Chadwick said it is “reviewing all available options to allow the resumption of the company’s operations” despite the setback.
