Australian Aviation Podcast Network

It wasn't the news more than 300 Bonza employees wanted to hear – but after a buyer for the grounded carrier failed to materialise, administrator Hall Chadwick has sacked all staff and cancelled every future flight.

With Bonza now seeming to be running on borrowed time, is there now any hope for a miracle rescue or a silver lining for hundreds of dedicated staff members now out of a job?

Adam and Jake examine the bad news and ask what's next for Bonza, its erstwhile staff – and its administrator.

Plus, Rex embarks on a major leadership shake-up, putting a local CEO in charge for the first time – so who is the Aussie set to lead Australia's third largest airline group?

It was meant to be the crowning achievement of the budding British airship industry: R101, a majestic "ocean liner of the skies" that would ferry passengers all across the world in style and comfort.

Yet on its maiden international flight in October 1930, the dreams of an empire went up in flames as R101 crashed and exploded in a field in the north of France. On board was one Australian VIP: William Palstra, a key figure in the early days of the RAAF.

The tragic demise of R101 with all but six hands led to the UK pulling out of the airship arena – and left an indelible mark on Palstra's family for generations afterwards.

On this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Cecilia Thornton, author of Airship of Dreams: The Man Who Rode the Titanic of the Skies, talks to Jake Nelson about the disaster that claimed her grandfather's life and spelled the end of the British airship age.

Will Bonza fly again? That's the question that has been on the mind of the aviation sector ever since the low-cost carrier went into voluntary administration at the end of April, with its planes seized and its employees stood down without notice. Administrator Hall Chadwick certainly believes it can get Bonza back in the skies, winning another two months to find a buyer for the airline with the argument that doing so would be better for creditors than winding it up – though that's cold comfort for employees who will now be left without pay until at least the end of July. On location at the 2024 Australian Space Summit, Adam and Jake examine the facts as they stand and discuss whether the administrators' optimism is well-placed. Plus, Rex heads for the Golden West – and takes NJE's E190s along for the ride. Could Australia see more E-Jets fly between capital cities?

For 19 months, Qantas reigned as Australia's most reliable airline group – but no more, with Virgin Australia last month knocking the Flying Kangaroo off its perch in a clean sweep of on-time arrivals, on-time departures and cancellations. With both major domestic airline groups now at or approaching long-term averages for reliability, will the trend hold, or could the "bad old days" of 2022 make a comeback? Adam, Jake and Ben crunch the numbers and cross their fingers that the era of domestic airline havoc is finally behind us. Plus, frustration abounds for Bonza staff still stuck in a holding pattern as administrators fight to save the airline – will stood-down employees get what they're owed?

Richard (Rick) Garner is a non-executive director on the board of Qantas Superannuation and an A330 pilot. He's also, incredibly, an award-winning mortgage broker who worked in financial services and now runs his own firm, Crew Financial. In this crossover podcast with Australian Aviation's sister podcast brand The Adviser, Rick discusses his love of flying – and how he juggles so many different jobs.

A week after Bonza's fleet was abruptly seized in a move that sent shockwaves through the Australian aviation sector, the airline is still yet to get back in the air as its administrator fights to save it.

With a big question mark over the future of its planes, and all eyes turning to its parent company 777 Partners, who is to blame for Bonza's predicament, and what's next for the airline that promised to be "Here for Allstralia"?

Adam and Jake discuss whether there's any hope for the purple tails to return to the skies, and examine the conventional wisdom around Bonza's collapse.

Plus, Qantas cuts a deal with the ACCC on the "ghost flights" case – is this a savvy move from new CEO Vanessa Hudson to jettison old baggage?

It was as sudden as it was brutal: grounded planes, stranded passengers, and chaos across the east coast as Bonza suspended its services without warning.

With reports that its entire fleet had been repossessed in the dead of night, emergency talks about the ongoing viability of the business ended in Bonza entering voluntary administration – so what went wrong?

In this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, recorded before the voluntary administration was announced, Adam and Jake discuss the shock collapse of Bonza and what might be next for the stricken low-cost carrier.

Plus, Australia's wet-leasing market gets bigger as the new owner of Skytrans lays out its plans to bring a fleet of A319s and other A320-family aircraft into Australia.

Bonza has come out swinging after reports in The Australian Financial Review that consultant KordaMentha had been called in to advise the airline.

In one of the more blunt denials we've seen, the low-cost carrier's CEO, Tim Jordan, has insisted KordaMentha "has not been appointed as financial advisors to Bonza, or in any other capacity" – so what's the real story?

Adam, Jake and Ben discuss the article and Bonza's forceful response, as well as the upcoming route changes from its Gold Coast base.

Plus, Qantas' new chairman steps into the job earlier than expected – and are the major airlines finally getting back to pre-COVID reliability?

With tensions flaring between Israel and Iran, Qantas has paused its non-stop Perth–London services, adding a new stop in Singapore on the northbound journey. Given the difficulties of avoiding Iranian airspace between Perth and London while staying within the safe range of a 787-9 Dreamliner, is the Flying Kangaroo hurting for the lack of its new A350-1000 fleet? Adam and Jake look at the implications for Qantas, including its future services from Perth to Rome and Paris. Plus, a big week for airport infrastructure aficionados, with builds at Western Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle all getting a turn in the spotlight.

Qantas has unveiled a massive shake-up to its frequent flyer program, adding 20 million new seats per year. The "Classic Plus" seats will cost more than the existing 5 million annual "Classic Rewards" seats, but will be more reliably available to passengers looking to spend their hard-earned frequent flyer points. Adam and Jake discuss the pros and cons of the new scheme, and whether it will endear the Flying Kangaroo to its loyalty customers. Plus, just when you thought it was safe to go back to Whyalla, the "Rexit" saga takes a dramatic new twist…