Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well as we know. A day after launching new flights
(00:02):
in the Northern Territory, Bonza was forced to cancel services
from Darwin to the Gold Coast for a month. There
were crocs and celebrations at the airport when the first
flight arrived on Wednesday night, bar that did quickly change
when passengers were advised that the route had been suspended
until January two. Now, I've had friends who were booked
on those flights get in contact pretty annoyed about the cancelations.
(00:26):
Joining us on the line is the BONSA CEO Tim Jordan.
Good morning to you, Tim.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Katie, Good morning Tim.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh, first and foremost to you, your friends and obviously
quite a number of your listeners. I'm sorry. What we're
doing is hard. We're trying to really disrupt the market here,
give more choice, open things up, make it more accessible.
(00:59):
And what we're doing here with our gold cost base
is utilizing aircraft from a partner airline that requires a
separate regulatory approval process. We haven't got through that yet.
It's ongoing, we're working through that and it is progressing positively,
(01:22):
but it just wasn't ready in time, and it's not
something we feel good about and you know, for your
as I say, for your friends, for many of your listeners,
it's a misstep and we'd like to apologize. We can't
do it. We're we're that's the DNA. Our DNA is
(01:43):
to offer something better to Australian travelers no matter where
you live.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, I will say.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
We've let ourselves down in that regard.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I will say something that I think you've done a
bit better than what what probably happens with other airlines
is that those flights that have been canceled, you've at
least sort of offered you know, accommodation or potentially you know,
money for accommodation and and a few different things to
try and help them out, which is a step I
think in the right direction. But tim what like, So
(02:11):
what exactly are you waiting on at this point?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
We are, as I say, there is a separate regulatory
approvals process because we temporarily we're in the process of
recruiting crewise for our goal co space, so in the
short term, so we could ironically bring an option for
(02:36):
Christmas travel to more travelers across the country. We were
looking to start this before Christmas, and unfortunately that process
is just ongoing at this moment and clearly clearly working
through the regulator. You know they do. They do a
fantastic job of making sure that everything is that it
(02:58):
should be. However, that process is just ongoing at this moment,
and once the regulator is happy with everything that we're doing,
they will, you know, once they say we're good to go,
we will be good to go. And we are getting
very close, but we're just not there yet, and as
soon as we can be, we will be.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
There will be people listening this morning thinking why was
this not sorted before allowing people to book these routes?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, and it is a very good question, but it's
absolutely sort of normal for clearly airlines the world over
have to open up bookings ahead of time. What we
believe is, you know, we we will always look on
the conservative side in terms of how long we believe
(03:45):
something will take for us to get the necessary approvals. Unfortunately,
on this one, we've got it wrong. So we will
learn some lessons. We will we will look at ourselves
and say, how could we have done it better and
make sure we'd step in the same holes again. I
guess what we do know also, before I know before
(04:06):
I I guess the big picture is we have traveled.
We have transported more than half a million customers so
far this year. That's half a million travelers around Australia
that otherwise most likely wouldn't have traveled because it's just
too expensive. So we got it wrong in terms of
(04:27):
this particular market at this time. And as I say,
we're not feeling great about ourselves, as we shouldn't at
this moment in time. But the big picture is we
are bringing change to the market. There's ten new destinations
across Australia that have low cost affairs in that nine
months ago didn't And as I said, there's half a
million travelers who have saved upwards of one hundred million
(04:48):
dollars that we have. We have reduced people's travel bills.
Albeit that that is going to be sounding very hollow
to some of your listeners right now. And as I say,
we're tim.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
How many people were booked on those on those routes
from Darwin to the Gold Coast. Do you have any
idea how many have been impacted?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, clearly you know. And the route the Sunshine Coast
is operating as planned, that is utilizing our bombs or
aircraft and crew, so it has a different operating mode
if you like, so that is operating and as you said,
there's a good number of customers who were booked to
(05:28):
be traveling to the Gold Coast who will not be
traveling to the Sunshine Coast if that is an option
which helps them in some way. Albeit it's far from perfect,
but in total, book to the Gold Coast was approximately
between fifteen and sixteen hundred customers.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
It's pretty that's a pretty large number over that period
of time. And as you said, this is not an
ideal situation at all, but I guess it also shows
you that you know that it was like that it's
potentially going to be a very popular.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Route, and we are incredibly encouraged and by the bookings,
but unfortunately, at this moment in time, that's that's like
a very hollow I'm going to use the wrong word
victory because this is far from a victory, but we
are really encouraged by those early bookings and we can
(06:20):
see some strength in that. That doesn't help many of
your listeners and in fact your friend who who we've
let down. As I say, what we do take solace
from is the fact that We have half a million
travelers this year who have got onto and bonds or
aircraft and have seen friends and family or visited new
places because of what we're doing, and I think that
(06:41):
big picture is really very important. What we're trying to
do here is if you like the classic David and Goliath,
and that's that's what we're doing in the market, and
it's we will we will get it wrong occasionally like
we have here, but we will try and learn very
quickly and then get it right. And we are really
(07:02):
really hoping that the territory allows us to make up
for this and trust us in the future because our
intention is the same as what it was a week ago,
which is to bring low affairs and more choice to
the people of the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Tim Are people going to get refunds if they have
booked on that route and they're not able to travel
to the Sunshine Coast instead for whatever reason.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, absolutely, they will absolutely get a full refund and
that will be processed as a matter of priority. And
so yes, full refund if that Sunshine Coast option is
not made available or is not suitable for the.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Customer, and if people are being flown to the Sunshine
Coast or if that is a viable option for them.
Instead is bonds are helping to cover some of the
alternative costs.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Not beyond transporting to the Sunshine Coast. No, as you
can imagine, we are still a relatively small business in
the overall scheme of things, and as I say, i'll
come back to the David and Goliath comparison, what we're
trying to do is wherever possible, we absolutely must be
fair and reasonable. We have previously looked at putting on
(08:17):
buses and those sorts of things. Unfortunately, our experience of
doing that sort of it doesn't necessarily help because once
we get to the other end, all of us have
got individual plans to individual locations, so quite often that
would unravel. So the extent of the if you like,
the assistance is to transfer to the Sunshine Coast where
(08:40):
that is available and useful. Alternatively a full refund for
the flights involved.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Was there also an option though, with accommodation or some
kind of assistance with accommodation on the Sunshine Coast or
have I read that.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Role I'm not sure. I think it depends on specific Yeah,
I wouldn't want to sort of add too much more
on that because I will, to be quite honest, I'll
probably get it wrong.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Well, Tim, I tell you, I know that there are
people that are disappointed. I've no doubt that there will
be people that are disappointed, particularly if they were planning
on traveling over Christmas. As you've said, I know that
that is something that bonds. It was certainly hoping to
be able to do. Mate. How soon are you expecting
that these flights are going to, you know, to get
that approval and be able to do exactly what you
(09:27):
intend for them to do.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
The second of January is the date that we are confident,
subject to the ongoing process. But as I say, what
we have done is built a conservative margin in that
particular date, so subject to the approvals being forthcoming, the
(09:51):
second of January is when we expect that first first
flight to the Gold Coast. Now, and as I say,
in the meantime, the Sunshine Coast offer rations are progressing
as planned, and I think it's just appropriate that I
apologize once again to you, your friends, and your listeners,
because this isn't who we are. We are here to disrupt,
(10:16):
we are here to help, and we've missed a step
here and for that, we're sorry, and we're going to
get better and we're going to learn from this, and
hopefully the territory can can support us as we as
we go on that quest to try and make it
more accessible in and out of the territory. Well, we
(10:37):
want people on the journey with us.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Well, Bonsa, CEO, Tim Jordan, We appreciate your time this morning,
and please do keep us up to date and let
us know how things are progressing. We appreciate you fronting
up and having a chat with us today.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Thank you, Katie, thank you
Well as we know. A day after launching new flights
(00:02):
in the Northern Territory, Bonza was forced to cancel services
from Darwin to the Gold Coast for a month. There
were crocs and celebrations at the airport when the first
flight arrived on Wednesday night, bar that did quickly change
when passengers were advised that the route had been suspended
until January two. Now, I've had friends who were booked
on those flights get in contact pretty annoyed about the cancelations.
(00:26):
Joining us on the line is the BONSA CEO Tim Jordan.
Good morning to you, Tim.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Katie, Good morning Tim.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh, first and foremost to you, your friends and obviously
quite a number of your listeners. I'm sorry. What we're
doing is hard. We're trying to really disrupt the market here,
give more choice, open things up, make it more accessible.
(00:59):
And what we're doing here with our gold cost base
is utilizing aircraft from a partner airline that requires a
separate regulatory approval process. We haven't got through that yet.
It's ongoing, we're working through that and it is progressing positively,
(01:22):
but it just wasn't ready in time, and it's not
something we feel good about and you know, for your
as I say, for your friends, for many of your listeners,
it's a misstep and we'd like to apologize. We can't
do it. We're we're that's the DNA. Our DNA is
(01:43):
to offer something better to Australian travelers no matter where
you live.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, I will say.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
We've let ourselves down in that regard.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I will say something that I think you've done a
bit better than what what probably happens with other airlines
is that those flights that have been canceled, you've at
least sort of offered you know, accommodation or potentially you know,
money for accommodation and and a few different things to
try and help them out, which is a step I
think in the right direction. But tim what like, So
(02:11):
what exactly are you waiting on at this point?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
We are, as I say, there is a separate regulatory
approvals process because we temporarily we're in the process of
recruiting crewise for our goal co space, so in the
short term, so we could ironically bring an option for
(02:36):
Christmas travel to more travelers across the country. We were
looking to start this before Christmas, and unfortunately that process
is just ongoing at this moment and clearly clearly working
through the regulator. You know they do. They do a
fantastic job of making sure that everything is that it
(02:58):
should be. However, that process is just ongoing at this moment,
and once the regulator is happy with everything that we're doing,
they will, you know, once they say we're good to go,
we will be good to go. And we are getting
very close, but we're just not there yet, and as
soon as we can be, we will be.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
There will be people listening this morning thinking why was
this not sorted before allowing people to book these routes?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, and it is a very good question, but it's
absolutely sort of normal for clearly airlines the world over
have to open up bookings ahead of time. What we
believe is, you know, we we will always look on
the conservative side in terms of how long we believe
(03:45):
something will take for us to get the necessary approvals. Unfortunately,
on this one, we've got it wrong. So we will
learn some lessons. We will we will look at ourselves
and say, how could we have done it better and
make sure we'd step in the same holes again. I
guess what we do know also, before I know before
(04:06):
I I guess the big picture is we have traveled.
We have transported more than half a million customers so
far this year. That's half a million travelers around Australia
that otherwise most likely wouldn't have traveled because it's just
too expensive. So we got it wrong in terms of
(04:27):
this particular market at this time. And as I say,
we're not feeling great about ourselves, as we shouldn't at
this moment in time. But the big picture is we
are bringing change to the market. There's ten new destinations
across Australia that have low cost affairs in that nine
months ago didn't And as I said, there's half a
million travelers who have saved upwards of one hundred million
(04:48):
dollars that we have. We have reduced people's travel bills.
Albeit that that is going to be sounding very hollow
to some of your listeners right now. And as I say,
we're tim.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
How many people were booked on those on those routes
from Darwin to the Gold Coast. Do you have any
idea how many have been impacted?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, clearly you know. And the route the Sunshine Coast
is operating as planned, that is utilizing our bombs or
aircraft and crew, so it has a different operating mode
if you like, so that is operating and as you said,
there's a good number of customers who were booked to
(05:28):
be traveling to the Gold Coast who will not be
traveling to the Sunshine Coast if that is an option
which helps them in some way. Albeit it's far from perfect,
but in total, book to the Gold Coast was approximately
between fifteen and sixteen hundred customers.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
It's pretty that's a pretty large number over that period
of time. And as you said, this is not an
ideal situation at all, but I guess it also shows
you that you know that it was like that it's
potentially going to be a very popular.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Route, and we are incredibly encouraged and by the bookings,
but unfortunately, at this moment in time, that's that's like
a very hollow I'm going to use the wrong word
victory because this is far from a victory, but we
are really encouraged by those early bookings and we can
(06:20):
see some strength in that. That doesn't help many of
your listeners and in fact your friend who who we've
let down. As I say, what we do take solace
from is the fact that We have half a million
travelers this year who have got onto and bonds or
aircraft and have seen friends and family or visited new
places because of what we're doing, and I think that
(06:41):
big picture is really very important. What we're trying to
do here is if you like the classic David and Goliath,
and that's that's what we're doing in the market, and
it's we will we will get it wrong occasionally like
we have here, but we will try and learn very
quickly and then get it right. And we are really
(07:02):
really hoping that the territory allows us to make up
for this and trust us in the future because our
intention is the same as what it was a week ago,
which is to bring low affairs and more choice to
the people of the territory.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Tim Are people going to get refunds if they have
booked on that route and they're not able to travel
to the Sunshine Coast instead for whatever reason.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, absolutely, they will absolutely get a full refund and
that will be processed as a matter of priority. And
so yes, full refund if that Sunshine Coast option is
not made available or is not suitable for the.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Customer, and if people are being flown to the Sunshine
Coast or if that is a viable option for them.
Instead is bonds are helping to cover some of the
alternative costs.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Not beyond transporting to the Sunshine Coast. No, as you
can imagine, we are still a relatively small business in
the overall scheme of things, and as I say, i'll
come back to the David and Goliath comparison, what we're
trying to do is wherever possible, we absolutely must be
fair and reasonable. We have previously looked at putting on
(08:17):
buses and those sorts of things. Unfortunately, our experience of
doing that sort of it doesn't necessarily help because once
we get to the other end, all of us have
got individual plans to individual locations, so quite often that
would unravel. So the extent of the if you like,
the assistance is to transfer to the Sunshine Coast where
(08:40):
that is available and useful. Alternatively a full refund for
the flights involved.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Was there also an option though, with accommodation or some
kind of assistance with accommodation on the Sunshine Coast or
have I read that.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Role I'm not sure. I think it depends on specific Yeah,
I wouldn't want to sort of add too much more
on that because I will, to be quite honest, I'll
probably get it wrong.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Well, Tim, I tell you, I know that there are
people that are disappointed. I've no doubt that there will
be people that are disappointed, particularly if they were planning
on traveling over Christmas. As you've said, I know that
that is something that bonds. It was certainly hoping to
be able to do. Mate. How soon are you expecting
that these flights are going to, you know, to get
that approval and be able to do exactly what you
(09:27):
intend for them to do.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
The second of January is the date that we are confident,
subject to the ongoing process. But as I say, what
we have done is built a conservative margin in that
particular date, so subject to the approvals being forthcoming, the
(09:51):
second of January is when we expect that first first
flight to the Gold Coast. Now, and as I say,
in the meantime, the Sunshine Coast offer rations are progressing
as planned, and I think it's just appropriate that I
apologize once again to you, your friends, and your listeners,
because this isn't who we are. We are here to disrupt,
(10:16):
we are here to help, and we've missed a step
here and for that, we're sorry, and we're going to
get better and we're going to learn from this, and
hopefully the territory can can support us as we as
we go on that quest to try and make it
more accessible in and out of the territory. Well, we
(10:37):
want people on the journey with us.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Well, Bonsa, CEO, Tim Jordan, We appreciate your time this morning,
and please do keep us up to date and let
us know how things are progressing. We appreciate you fronting
up and having a chat with us today.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Thank you, Katie, thank you
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.