Week in Review: Highlights in Aviation

Welcome to our weekly Week In Review series where we look at the latest news in the Aviation Industry!

Bonza Enters Administration 

Australia’s newest Ultra Low Cost Airline, Bonza, has entered administration amidst its financial woes, resulting in its aircraft being repossessed by lessors. Bonza has also temporarily suspended services due to be operated up to and including Tuesday 7 May 2024, according to a statement on its website at the time of publishing. 

This incident started on the night of 29 April 2024, at 11:51 AEST, when the Lessors of the Aircraft leased to Bonza issued notices terminating their leases in place for the aircraft, requiring Bonza to immediately cease to operate the Aircraft. 

Employees were reportedly left “screaming and crying” when they learnt that they would not be receiving their salaries for the month of April due to the current financial condition of the company, according to an article published by news.com.au. 

In a statement, it was also revealed that due to insufficient cash flow and funding, the Administrators are unable to recommence full operations, and they have no alternatives but to stand down the majority of the employees of Bonza. 

AirAsia Cambodia starts operations 

AirAsia Cambodia, the newest member in the AirAsia chain of airlines have started its flight operations in Cambodia on 2 May 2024 to much fanfare. 

The Airline’s first flight departed from Phnom Penh International Airport at 7:40am and landed at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport at 8:30am Local time. The airline will continue operations from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville today, therefore increasing connectivity within Cambodia. 

In celebration of this historic event for AirAsia Cambodia, Mr Vissoth Nam, CEO of AirAsia Cambodia said “The timing of AirAsia Cambodia’s domestic flight launch is also opportune, coinciding with the government’s concerted efforts to attract more tourists to the culturally rich province of Siem Reap through the recently launched ‘Visit Siem Reap 2024’ campaign.”

AirAsia plans to serve these routes in Cambodia daily with 2 Airbus A320 Aircraft based at Phnom Penh International Airport. The AirAsia Group flies to Cambodia Internationally from its hub at Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok with 63 flights weekly, and AirAsia Cambodia would help to further enhance that connectivity through offering domestic flights in Cambodia. 

Global Airlines A380 first flight 

A United Kingdom Startup, Global Airlines has just received its first Airbus A380 aircraft, previously operated by China Southern Airlines. On the 30th of April, the A380 begun its journey to Glasgow, Scotland from Mojave, through Montreal, in a journey which lasted just under 14 hours in flying time. The Airbus A380 aircraft also had to undertake the entire journey in a gears down configuration, as the aircraft was only scheduled to undergo checks for its landing gears when in Glasgow. 

Global Airlines plans to fly the A380 aircraft between London Heathrow and New York JFK airport, capitalising on the high traffic volume between these two airports. The flights are expected to start somewhere later this year.

Air China and China Southern Airlines places order for C919

China Southern Airlines has placed orders for a 100 of COMAC’s newest C919 aircraft, being the last of the three Chinese State-owned airline to place orders for the indigenously manufactured aircraft. The order was placed just three days after Air China announced its orders for 100 C919 aircraft. With these 2 deals in 3 days, this would mean that COMAC has received orders from all 3 Chinese State-owned airline. 

The variant of C919s which China Southern placed orders for were the basic version of the C919, which has been rated to fly for a maximum range of 4630km, and would be sold at a slightly lower list price as compared to its extended range counterpart. 

Meanwhile, Air China placed orders for the extended-range version of the C919, which features additional fuel tanks, together with the presence of winglets for improved aerodynamics. The C919-100(ER) can fly for a maximum range of 5556km, slightly longer than its non extended range counterpart.