It's been an unpleasant couple for weeks for Bonza, the new kid on the Australian aviation block, with mass cancellations of its new Gold Coast routes while it waits for CASA to clear its wet-lease operations with Flair.

With customers fuming and damage control efforts underway, whose fault is the Gold Coast debacle, and what could have been done differently?

In the last Australian Aviation podcast for the year, Adam and Jake discuss the fallout and the optics for Bonza, and how its rivals are capitalising on its misfortune.

Plus, Richard Branson graces Australia with his august presence once again, Qantas gears up for a massive holiday peak, Australia's international recovery continues to race towards 100 per cent, and we thank the people who made our podcasts possible this year.