Bonza’s long-awaited launch is still in doubt as the airline awaits approval from regulators.
Australian ultra-low budget airline Bonza announced it was suspending all flights indefinitely, just weeks before its planned launch.
The move came after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) raised concerns about the airline’s safety standards. CASA has since put in place an interim order which requires Bonza to meet a number of conditions before it can start flying.
Bonza launched last October, becoming the first new airline in Australia in 15 years. They made headlines with their promise of cheap flights between under-served regional cities in the eastern states.
The launch date was first pushed back to mid-year, and then it was pushed back again to September.
Now, with just weeks to go before its planned launch, Bonza is still waiting for final approval from regulators. This approval is necessary for the airline to begin selling tickets and operating flights.
“The approval process was multifaceted and complex,” said a CASA spokesman.
“It involves a specialised team that is carefully reviewing processes and documents to ensure Bonza meets the aviation safety standards expected by Australian travellers,” he said.
“The evaluation includes areas such as the airline’s operations manuals, maintenance procedures, safety systems as well as pilot and crew training.
