Bonza, an Australian low-cost airline, announced last April 29th the suspension of operations. The company had six Boeing 737 MAX 8s in its fleet, including aircraft with Australian and Canadian registrations.
Its first flight was on January 31st, 2023. Tim Jordan, Bonza’s CEO, had said on its first anniversary, “It really is a Bonzaversary to remember’ since our inaugural flight on 31 January 2023′ Bonza has expanded to operate 38 routes to 21 destinations from three bases and’ of these routes’ 84% are unique to Bonza”.
“We have big plans for 2024 and the Australian public will benefit. We predict we will save domestic travelers around an additional $250 million next year. Competition in Australian skies is a fantastic thing for Australian travelers and more than 750,000 customers have already experienced the benefits of Bonza,” he concluded.
Bonza was forced to cease operations after lessor AIP Capital removed flight manuals from some of the airline’s aircraft.
Emirates continues its expansion in Asia with the launch of new routes, as well as an increase in weekly frequencies.
What are the airline’s current destinations in this market?
Ahmedabad, Angeles City, Auckland, Baghdad, Bangalore, Bangkok, Basra, Beijing, Brisbane, Cebu, Chennai, Cochin, Colombo, Delhi, Denpasar, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jakarta, Karachi, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Male, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Mumbai, Osaka, Perth, Peshawar, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sialkot, St. Petersburg, Sydney, Tehran, Tokyo (HND and NRT) and Trivandrum.
We will review Emirates’ new developments later in the report.
These are other highlights of the Asia/Oceania market in May Air India will operate a new international route with its Airbus A350s. * Aurora to fly between Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Beijing. * Bhutan Airlines adds two new connections. * Cambodia Angkor Air will serve Da Nang from Phnom Penh. * Cebu Pacific launches a new route to Bangkok. * China Eastern will have flights between Beijing Daxing and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. * China Southern and its new routes. * Korean Air launches its first international destination from Jeju. * Lao Airlines began flights between Pakse and Guangzhou. * Malaysia Airlines confirms three new international connections. * Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will launch flights to Doha. * Nauru Airlines, the only company to operate between Australia and Palau. * Qantas and its developments in the Asian market. * SpiceJet will commence a new route, which will be operated with Sky Angkor Airlines’ Airbus A320. * Tigerair Taiwan announces three new connections from Taichung.*
Air IndiaAs of June 1st, the airline will start operating between Mumbai and Dubai with its new Airbus A350-900s. According to our database, Air India performs this route on Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Daily (A350)* AI 983 Mumbai BOM 20:25 · 21:55 DXB Dubai * AI 984 Dubai DXB 23:40 · 04:20+1 BOM Mumbai
Mumbai – Dubai will be Air India’s second international Airbus A350 route, after Delhi – Dubai.
AuroraThe carrier will open a new international connection from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk beginning June 11th. In line with its website, services will be available until late August.
Tuesday* HZ 4696 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk UUS 23:30 · 00:25+1 PKX Beijing
Wednesday* HZ 4697 Beijing PKX 01:35 · 08:05 UUS Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Harbin is currently its only international destination to/from the Russian city. The other connections are Blagoveshchensk, Iturup, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Okha, Petropavlovsk, Shakhtyorsk, Sovetskaya, Tymovskoye and Yuzhno-Kurilsk, all in Russia.
Bhutan AirlinesFrom September, the airline plans to add services to Bangalore and Mumbai.
Operations will be combined with Kolkata, using Airbus A319-100 aircraft in both cases.
Mumbai · September 24thMonday
Thursday
Map by gcmap.comBangalore · September 25thTuesday
Friday
Cambodia Angkor AirPhnom Penh – Da Nang, Cambodia Angkor Air’s new route.
Effective July 11th, lights are scheduled twice a week with 186-seat Airbus A320-200 aircraft.
Thursday and Sunday* K6 846 Phnom Penh PNH 10:20 · 11:35 DAD Da Nang * K6 847 Da Nang DAD 12:25 · 13:40 PNH Phnom Penh
Map by gcmap.comGuangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Nanning, Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Zhengzhou are the current routes of Cambodia Angkor Air in Phnom Penh. For its part, the airline operates to Da Nang from Siem Reap.
Cebu PacificStarting July 16th, Cebu Pacific will launch services between Manila and Bangkok (DMK). As stated on its website, the carrier will offer three weekly flights on this route using 180-seat Airbus A320-200 jets.
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday* 5J 863 Manila MNL 19:25 · 22:00 DMK Bangkok * 5J 864 Bangkok DMK 23:00 · 03:40+1 MNL Manila
China EasternFor the following month, China Eastern Airlines will be flying between Beijing Daxing and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.
The first operation will be on May 27th, according to its website. These services will be carried out on Airbus A320s with a capacity of 158 passengers in single class, until late June.
Daily except Thursday* MU 2071 Beijing PKX 19:15 · 23:20 BKK Bangkok
Daily except Friday* MU 2072 Bangkok BKK 00:40 · 06:35 PKX Beijing
Thai Vietjet Air currently operates one daily frequency between the two airports with A320 airplanes.
China SouthernThe airline will open five new international routes from China between June and July.
Map by gcmap.com Harbin (HRB) – Hong Kong (HKG): 2 weekly · June 2nd * Zhengzhou (CGO) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL): 7 weekly · June 20th * Guangzhou (CAN) – Islamabad (ISB): 3 weekly · June 25th * Guangzhou (CAN) – Budapest (BUD): 4 weekly · June 27th * Beijing (PKX) – Singapore (SIN): 7 weekly · July 1st*
In addition, last May 11th, China Southern Airlines inaugurated its services between Shenzhen and Mexico City. We will talk more about this in the Latin America report.
China WestAt 19:39 on May 16th, China West Airlines’ first flight from Chongqing landed in Hanoi. The company will offer two frequencies per week on Airbus A320s.
Tuesday and Saturday* PN 6575 Chongqing CKG 18:55 · 20:00 HAN Hanoi * PN 6576 Hanoi HAN 21:00 · 00:15+1 CKG Chongqing
In the next Asia/Oceania report, we will mention two new routes that China West will inaugurate in mid-June.
EmiratesAs mentioned above, the airline will have the following changes in the Asian market, all from/to Dubai:
Map by gcmap.com Kuala Lumpur (KUL): July 1st · first flight with Airbus A380 * Ahmedabad (AMD): October 27th · first flight with Airbus A350 * Mumbai (BOM): October 27th · first flight with Airbus A350 * Colombo (CMB): January 1st, 2025 · first flight with Airbus A350 * Kuala Lumpur (KUL): January 1st, 2025 · increase from 7 to 14 (A380) * Ho Chi Minh City (SGN): January 15th, 2025 · increase from 7 to 14*
Furthermore, Emirates resumed services between Dubai and Phnom Penh on May 1st. The company will operate under the following schedule, in accordance with our database:
Daily* EK 348 Dubai DXB 02:30 · 14:05 SIN Singapore * EK 348 Singapore SIN 15:35 · 16:35 PNH Phnom Penh * EK 349 Phnom Penh PNH 20:50 · 23:50 SIN Singapore * EK 349 Singapore SIN 01:40 · 04:55 DXB Dubai (following day)
Iran AirtourIran Airtour’s Airbus A310-324, registered EP-MDH, entered service last May 12th. The Iranian airline had incorporated this 33-year-old aircraft in May 2023, following its retirement from Mahan Air.
Fleet Airbus A300-600: 4 * Airbus A310-300: 4 * Airbus A320-200: 1 * McDonnell Douglas MD-82: 5 * McDonnell Douglas MD-83: 1 * McDonnell Douglas MD-87:* 1
Jetstar JapanOn May 8th, the Japanese carrier began international operations with Airbus A321LRs.
The Tokyo Narita – Shanghai Pudong route will be offered between two and three weekly times as follows:
Jetstar Japan also operates this leg on Airbus A320-200 aircraft.
Korean AirAs of July 19th, the South Korean carrier will offer three services a week between Jeju and Tokyo Narita. Operations will be performed with 173-seat Boeing 737-900ER planes.
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday* KE 2125 Jeju CJU 13:05 · 15:35 NRT Tokyo * KE 2126 Tokyo NRT 16:35 · 19:25 CJU Jeju
The Japanese capital will be Korean Air’s first international destination from Jeju, as its current destinations are Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Gwangju, Jinju, Seoul Gimpo, Ulsan and Yeosu. Busan and Seoul Incheon are its connections from Tokyo Narita.
Lao AirlinesGuangzhou, new Lao Airlines destination.
The company began flights from Pakse, Laos, on May 19th using Airbus A320 aircraft.
Sunday* QV 888 Pakse PKZ 23:05 · 02:05+1 CAN Guangzhou
Monday* QV 889 Guangzhou CAN 03:05 · 04:05 PKZ Pakse
Current routes – PakseMap by gcmap.com Guangzhou (CAN): 1 weekly · Airbus A320 (Lao Airlines) * Ho Chi Minh City (SGN): 3 weekly · ATR 72 (Lao Airlines) * Luang Prabang (LPQ): 3 weekly · ATR 72 (Lao Airlines) * Siem Reap (SAI): 3 weekly · ATR 72 (Lao Airlines) * Vientiane (VTE): 17 weekly · A320/ATR 72 (Lao Airlines) * Vientiane (VTE): 2 weekly · Xian MA-60 (Lao Skyway)*
Malaysia AirlinesThe airline announced the expansion of its network, with the opening of three new international connections from Kuala Lumpur (all with Boeing 737-800s):
Map by gcmap.com Male (MLE): 7 weekly · August 1st * Chiang Mai (CNX): 5 weekly · August 15th * Da Nang (DAD): 7 weekly · September 24th*
Myanmar Airways InternationalMAI plans to launch operations between Yangon and Doha from June 1st. Services will be on 140-seat Airbus A319s, under this schedule:
Tuesday and Saturday* 8M 120 Yangon RGN 14:30 · 17:50 DOH Doha * 8M 121 Doha DOH 18:50 · 04:30+1 RGN Yangon
MAI Routes to/from YangonMap by gcmap.comCambodia
China
India
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
Vietnam
Nauru AirlinesThe company expands its services to Australia with a new route from Palau.
At the time of publication, Nauru Airlines will perform this route once per week by Boeing 737-800 with capacity for 189 passengers.
Tuesday (first flight May 21st)* ON 80 Brisbane BNE 23:30 · 04:30+1 ROR Airai
Wednesday (first flight May 22nd)* ON 81 Airai ROR 22:30 · 05:30+1 BNE Brisbane
Nauru Airlines is the only carrier operating between Australia and Palau.
Qanot SharqAs of June 23rd, the Uzbek airline intends to inaugurate flights between Tashkent and Shanghai Pudong, which will be operated with a weekly frequency on Airbus A320s.
Sunday* HH 3311 Tashkent TAS 14:00 · 23:55 PVG Shanghai
Monday* HH 3312 Shanghai PVG 01:30 · 06:30 TAS Tashkent
Fergana, Jeddah, Moscow, Namangan, Nha Trang, Phuket, Samarkand and Sharm el-Sheikh are Qanot Sharq’s current routes from/to Tashkent.
QantasIn Q4, Qantas confirmed it will boost flights to the Asian market.
Connections to Bangalore and Singapore will have the following changes, in addition to a new start:
Map by gcmap.comBrisbane Singapore (SIN): from 7 to 9 · October 27th * Manila (MNL): 4 weekly · effective October 28th*
Sydney Bangalore (BLR): from 5 to 7 weekly · December 12th * Singapore (SIN): from 7 to 8 weekly · October 30th*
On the other hand, the airline will discontinue services between Sydney and Shanghai from July 28th. It currently operates five times a week using Airbus A330-300s.
Somon AirThe Tajik carrier launched services between Khujand and Urumqi in mid-May. At the time of publication, Somon Air will offer a weekly flight on 189-seat Boeing 737-800s.
Thursday* SZ 159 Khujand LBD 21:00 · 02:40+1 URC Urumqi
Friday* SZ 160 Urumqi URC 04:00 · 03:40 LBD Khujand
Somon Air has six aircraft in its fleet (4 Boeing 737-800 and 2 Boeing 737-900).
SpiceJetEffective May 31st, the Indian low cost airline will have a daily frequency between Delhi and Phuket. These services will be operated on Sky Angkor Airlines’ leased Airbus A320s with the following schedule:
Daily* SG 89 Delhi DEL 09:00 · 15:15 HKT Phuket * SG 90 Phuket HKT 16:15 · 19:20 DEL Delhi
From Delhi, Bangkok is the carrier’s only current destination in Thailand, which is offered once a day with Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Spring AirlinesThe Chinese low cost carrier will add a new route to Vietnam as of July 6th.
According to its website, Spring Airlines will operate four weekly between Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday* 9C 7557 Shanghai PVG 14:35 · 17:55 SGN Ho Chi Minh City * 9C 7558 Ho Chi Minh City SGN 18:55 · 23:55 PVG Shanghai
Tigerair TaiwanDuring July, the Taiwanese airline will begin three new connections from Taichung, which will be carried out by Airbus A320-200 aircraft.
Nagoya · July 1stMonday and Friday
Tokyo Narita · July 2ndTuesday, Thursday and Sunday
Busan · July 3rdWednesday and Saturday
Xiamen AirlinesXiamen Air’s operations between Quanzhou and Bangkok (BKK) will commence on June 15th.
In accordance with its website, services will have three frequencies per week on Boeing 737-800s with 189 seats.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday* MF 8693 Quanzhou JJN 09:40 · 12:00 BKK Bangkok * MF 8694 Bangkok BKK 13:00 · 17:20 JJN Quanzhou
Current Xiamen Air routes in Bangkok and QuanzhouMap by gcmap.comBangkok
Quanzhou (international routes)
With respect to new additions (some of which are not new from the factory), we have the following airlines that have taken delivery of aircraft during the last month.
| Aircraft | Airline | Registration | Ferry flight | Date | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Airbus A350-941 | Singapore | 9V-SJH | TLS-SIN | April 19th | | Airbus A321-253NX | China Southern | B-32GQ | XFW-NQZ-CAN | April 23rd | | Airbus A321-251NX | Pegasus | TC-RDO | TLS-SAW | April 24th | | Airbus A321-272NX | Korean Air | HL8557 | TLS-TAS-GMP | April 25th | | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Shandong Airlines | B-223U | BFI-HNL-GUM-TNA | April 25th | | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Air India Express | VT-BXM | BFI-KEF-KWI-HYD | April 27th | | Airbus A350-941 | Air India | VT-JRF | TLS-DEL | April 30th | | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Air India Express | VT-BXZ | BFI-KEF-KWI-HYD | April 30th | | Airbus A321-251NX | Chengdu Airlines | B-32GM | XFW-ASB-CTU | April 30th | | Airbus A320-251N | IndiGo | VT-IQW | TLS-DEL | April 30th | | Airbus A321-253NX | China Southern | B-32GR | XFW-URC-CAN | May 1st | | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Hainan Airlines | B-225J | BFI-HNL-GUM-HAK | May 1st | | Airbus A320-251N | Air India | VT-RTZ | TLS-DEL | May 2nd | | Airbus A321-271NX | China Airlines | B-18115 | XFW-DWC-BKK-TPE | May 2nd | | Airbus A320-251N | IndiGo | VT-IXA | TLS-DEL | May 7th | | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Virgin Australia | VH-8IF | BFI-MLBMLB-ONT-KOA-BNE | May 8thMay 18th | | Boeing 787-9 | China Southern | B-20EL | PAE-CAN | May 12th | | Boeing 777-212(ER) | Garuda Indonesia | N771KW | MCI-LCA-CGK-KNO | May 12th | | Airbus A350-941 | Air India | VT-JRI | TLS-DEL | May 13th | | Airbus A321-251NX | IndiGo | VT-ICP | XFW-DEL | May 14th | | Airbus A320-271N | FlyArystan | EI-KFB | TLS-ALA | May 15th |
*It is not new from the factory.
Eastern Airlines’ Boeing 777-212(ER), registration N771KW, will operate for Garuda Indonesia under this same registry.
Following the cessation of Bonza, its Boeing 737 MAX 8s are now returning to their lessors. For more information about the planes that were part of Bonza’s fleet, you can click here.
Other reports we have published:
Cover photo: ToanLa – JetPhotos (Singapore).
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