qantas staff travel telephone

Staff travel information

Qantas has a category for 'commercial pax upgrades' that affects open seat availability by class. Pax can buy upgrades with their reward points. This can cause last-minute changes in the availability per class.

Qantas economy class commercial baggage allowances apply for staff travelers.

Remember that no single item of checked baggage may exceed 32kg (70lb) and all cabin baggage must fit under the seat in front of you or in an overhead locker, including musical instruments.

If you exceed the baggage allowance, you must pay any applicable excess baggage charges.

When travelling on Qantas services rebate travelers must maintain a high standard of dress and grooming. Generally speaking you need to be neat, clean and conservative.

Acceptable: Tidy denim jeans, near knee-length dress shorts, including demin are acceptable.

Not Acceptable: Tracksuits, jeans with cut off and frayed hems, designer holes etc. Singlets, bare midriffs, strapless tops/dresses, overly revealing clothing, rubber thongs/flip flops or bare feet. Any extremes of leisure wear, including sweatshirts or t-shirts with questionable graphics or language.

Flight listings are required by staff travelers for all Qantas and Jetstar flights. Flight listings must be made at least 24 hours prior to travel. Staff travelers without a listing may be refused travel.

Qantas flight listings:

• E-tickets purchased through myIDTravel and issued by Qantas (081 ticket stock) are automatically listed for travel at the time of booking.
• E-tickets purchased through myIDTravel and issued by your own airline (ticket stock is not 081) or e-tickets purchased directly with your airline require a listing to be made.
• Flight listings should be made via www.myidtravel.com/myidlisting/ .
• If you do not have your airline's log-in access to myIDTravel, please contact your staff travel office for the applicable user id and password.

Jetstar flight listings:

• Bookings purchased via myIDTravel and issued by Jetstar are automatically listed for travel at the time of booking.
• If your airline has an IET agreement for travel on Jetstar services operated by a QF code-share flight number and e-ticket has been closed to QF carrier-code, a listing must be made with Jetstar prior to airport check-in.
• Listings can be made by contacting Jetstar on the following numbers between

0800 - 1800 (Australian Eastern Standard Time):

Australia: 1300 042 394 or +61 3 8668 8277

Singapore: 800 852 9510

New Zealand: 0800 284 510

Other countries: +61 3 8668 8277

Check In Times

International: 90 - 120 minutes before scheduled departure time

Domestic: 45 - 60 minutes before scheduled departure time

Checking in at the Airport

Until further notice if you're travelling from Sydney International Terminal there are dedicated staff travel check-in counters located at counter B (north) 10 to 11.

• For international flights (QF001 - 399) from Terminal 1, check-in at Economy Class check-in desks.
• For domestic flights QF400 - 1599 from Terminal 3 check-in at the Check-In Kiosk and follow the instructions.
• For domestic flights QF1600 and above from Terminal 2, go to any Economy Class check-in desk or, if you have no bags to check-in, to the Customer Service desk.

Other Australian airports

Self Check-In Kiosks are the fast and easy way to check-in at the airport for domestic flights.

Where Self Check-In Kiosks are not available go to the Economy class check-in counters.

International Airports

Self Check-In Kiosks to be used where available. (Not available in all ports). Otherwise, Economy Class check-in desks.

Through check-in

Through check-in is not available to staff travelers with standby (space available/subload/ID) tickets. When planning your journey, make sure that you leave yourself enough time to land and check-in again at any intermediate point.

Refund requests for wholly unused e-tickets will be processed automatically. Partially used e-tickets will be processed manually and can take up to 8 weeks from receipt of refund request. E-tickets with an issue date exceeding one year are not eligible for refund.

Special meals

Special meals are not available to any rebate passenger, whether on duty or personal travel. If you have specific dietary needs or preferences which mean that you are unable or unwilling to eat or drink any of the items you are likely to be served on board, you must take your own provisions.

Seat requests

Seat requests are not permitted under any circumstances, whether on travelling on duty or personal travel. If the flight is open, the check-in agent may ask if you want an aisle or a window seat, but this will depend on the commercial load of the flight.

Even if you are assigned a specific seat at check-in, you may be moved, even when onboard the aircraft, if it is needed to accommodate commercial requirements.

Through check-in is not available to staff travelers on standby travel. When planning your journey, make sure that you leave yourself enough time to de-plane and check-in again at any intermediate point.

Children under 16 years cannot travel on any kind of staff travel rebate ticket unless accompanied by an adult travelling on the same type of rebate ticket.

Qantas doesn't generally impose embargoes, but staff travelers are reminded that flights in peak seasons are often full.

general phone number

+61 3 8668 8277

listing phone number

[email protected]

refunds email

Qantas flight loads.

Download the StaffTraveler app to get accurate, reliable seat availability for Qantas flights.

Non-rev tips

Flying on a stand-by ticket can be challenging. We have gathered invaluable insider information and tips to help you to get on board.

Submit your notes

Add your qantas staff travel notes to stafftraveler.

Please note that this form is  not intended to ask staff travel related questions .

Only use this form to add Qantas tips & notes to the StaffTraveler Airline Notes database.

Questions submitted through this form cannot be answered, as StaffTraveler is not associated with Qantas.

Please note that this form is not intended to submit staff travel related questions as these cannot be answered.

Making staff travel easy and stress-free, like it should be!

Qantas: Airline investigates after app lets customers see strangers' data

• Published 1 day ago

Australian airline Qantas says it is investigating a privacy breach on its app that left customers with access to others' personal details.

Some users reported seeing several boarding passes and flight details belonging to strangers, including their names and frequent flyer information.

Qantas said it fixed the problem about three hours after it was discovered, and apologised to customers.

There was "no indication of a cyber security incident", it added.

"Current investigations indicate that it was caused by a technology issue and may have been related to recent system changes," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier, it had urged those affected to "please be aware of social media scams at this time".

Customer Josh Withers told the ABC that another passenger's name and details appeared when he opened the app on Wednesday.

"It said: 'Hi Sam' and I instantly noticed [that] Sam had a lot more Qantas points than I did," he said.

Mr Withers said that each time he re-opened the portal a new customer's details would appear including their frequent flyer points and scheduled flights.

Other passengers told local media they appeared to have the ability to cancel another passenger's upcoming flight to Europe.

Speaking to Nine News, technology journalist Trevor Long said that in the space of 15 minutes he could "capture at least 8-12 different people's details - including valid boarding passes".

The airline has recommended that users log out and then log back into the app to try and fix the issue.

It said it was "not aware of any customers travelling with incorrect boarding passes".

Social media has been flooded with criticisms of the carrier and posts from people claiming to be affected.

Users on X, formerly Twitter, shared screenshots of the glitch and alleged phishing attempts. Some appeared to show accounts posing as Qantas customer care agents asking for people's personal information in order to assist them.

Related Topics

More on this story.

Qantas boss exits early amid mounting scandals

• Published 5 September 2023

The Australian carrier Qantas apologised on Wednesday after a “technology issue” with its mobile app exposed users’ travel details including their names, flights and points.

The apology came after media reports suggested there was a data breach on its frequent flyer app allowing users access to other passengers’ travel information.

“We apologise to customers impacted by the issue with the Qantas app this morning, which has now been resolved,” the carrier said in a statement.

Multiple local media outlets, citing Qantas customers, reported that some users could see strangers’ full travel information, with at least one user being able to cancel someone else’s tickets.

“Current investigations indicate that it was caused by a technology issue and may have been related to recent system changes,” the airline said.

“At this stage, there is no indication of a cyber security incident.”

Some users reported, however, that the glitch persisted even after the airline said it had fixed the app.

Qantas confirmed that some frequent flyers saw other users’ travel information including names, upcoming flight details, points balance and status.

“No further personal or financial information was shared, and customers would not have been able to transfer or use the Qantas Points of other frequent flyers,” it said.

“We’re not aware of any customers travelling with incorrect boarding passes.”

• Frequent flyer
• Personal data

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Qantas app glitch sees boarding passes fly to other accounts

Issue now resolved and isn't thought to be the work of criminals.

Aussie airline Qantas says its app is now stable following a data breach that saw boarding passes take off from passengers' accounts.

Customers and local media reported on Wednesday seeing other customers' boarding passes, airline points, and personal information such as names being displayed in their Qantas mobile app.

Trevor Long, a tech journalist speaking to local broadcaster 9News Australia, said he was able to view as many as eight other people's details and boarding passes in his account.

Qantas said in a statement that there were two periods throughout the day in which "some customers" were being issued with wrong details, but the blunder isn't thought to be the result of a cybersecurity breach.

"Current investigations indicate that it was caused by a technology issue and may have been related to recent system changes," it said . "At this stage, there is no indication of a cybersecurity incident."

To further reassure users, it added that financial information wasn't among the data shared with other customers, and despite airline points being displayed, they weren't usable or transferable.

Qantas also said it received no reports of individuals trying to board flights using other flyers' passes, and even if they did, the airline has processes in place that would prevent the pass from being used fraudulently.

The airline issued an apology to customers, saying that it's continuing to monitor the app for any other glitches that arise.

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"We sincerely apologize to customers impacted by the issue with the Qantas app this morning, which has now been resolved."

Qantas also urged customers to be on high alert for social media scams that could be spun up to capitalize on the incident.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time scammers have tried to use current events to their advantage. In 2019, following the fall of what was at the time the world's oldest travel agency, Thomas Cook, there was a huge spike in phishing sites being created to exploit former staff and customers.

Researchers said the lures were most commonly focused on those seeking advice about compensation claims. Targeting the vulnerable, essentially, as scammers often do.

A similar situation could feasibly unfold in the wake of the Qantas app debacle too, with customers fearing their data was stolen, for example.

Qantas app users have also been advised to reauthenticate into their frequent flyer account within the app. ®

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• AGRICULTURE

Australia’s Qantas probing reports of data breach at frequent flyers app

(Reuters) – Australia’s Qantas Airways said on Wednesday it was investigating issues impacting its frequent flyer application, after media reports suggested there was a data breach allowing users access to other passengers’ travel information.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

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Qantas passengers’ personal details exposed as airline app logs users into wrong account

Airline investigating whether privacy breach allowing customers to view others’ account details was caused by ‘recent system changes’

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
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Potentially thousands of Qantas customers have had their personal details made public via the airline’s app, with some frequent flyers able to view strangers’ account details and possibly make changes to other users’ bookings.

Qantas said late Wednesday its app had been fixed and was stable, after two separate periods that day “where some customers were shown the flight and booking details of other frequent flyers”.

The airline said this didn’t include displaying financial information, and that users were not able to transfer Qantas points from another account or board flights with their in-app boarding passes.

Clare Gemmell from Sydney said that she and four colleagues encountered the problem shortly after 8.30 on Wednesday morning.

“My colleague logged in and said ‘I think the Qantas app has been hacked because it’s not my account when I log in’.”

When Gemmell logged into the app, she was greeted with a message saying “Hi Ben”. The app told her Ben had more than 250,000 points and an upcoming international flight.

“Another colleague of mine said it looked like she was able to cancel somebody’s flight ticket,” she said.

“You could see boarding passes for other people, one of my colleagues could see a flight going to Melbourne and it looked like you could interact and actually affect the booking.”

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

The app has more than 115,000 ratings and reviews in the Apple store, where it has a star rating of 4.8.

Gemmell, who works in customer data technology, said the security lapse was “pretty shocking”.

“It’s a privacy breach and other people having access to my information and being able to cancel flights on my behalf is terrible customer service and very concerning,” she said.

“It’s basic 101 security that they should have tested any app changes before they released it into production,” she said, referring to the moment when the app went live.

She said she hadn’t been aware of an update to the app but that she since understood the app may have been updated overnight.

By shortly after 8.50am on Wednesday, the app appeared to have reverted to normal, she said.

Qantas launched an investigation into the breach and said in a statement that there was no indication of a cyber security incident.

The spokesperson said customers would not have been able to transfer or use the Qantas Points of other frequent flyers and was not aware of any customers travelling with incorrect boarding passes.

“We sincerely apologise to customers impacted by the issue with the Qantas app this morning, which has now been resolved,” they said.

“Current investigations indicate that it was caused by a technology issue and may have been related to recent system changes.

“At this stage, there is no indication of a cyber security incident.

“The issue was isolated to the Qantas app with some frequent flyers able to see the travel information of other customers, including name, upcoming flight details, points balance and status. No further personal or financial information was shared and customers would not have been able to transfer or use the Qantas Points of other frequent flyers. We’re not aware of any customers travelling with incorrect boarding passes.”

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Rival airlines’ surprise move after Bonza collapse

Not long after Bonza announced it had gone into voluntary administration, three of the country’s biggest carriers all did the same thing.

Hostie exposes passenger’s ‘heinous’ act

Huge blow for passengers of bust airline

Aussie CEO’s tragic six words to staff

Three of the country’s biggest airlines have sprung into action to help passengers and affected staff from the Bonza collapse.

On Tuesday, the 14-month old budget airline announced it has entered into voluntary administration after it suddenly slashed flights across the country leaving many stranded .

“Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated today, as discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business,” CEO Tim Jordan said.

In a further statement sent to news.com.au, Mr Burton apologised to customers impacted by the airline’s sudden wave of cancellations.

“We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we are working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian aviation market.”

Tracy Hilbert booked a flight from Melbourne to Gladstone to be with her family following the passing of her father on Monday. In a state of shock, she arrived at Melbourne Airport to find out her early morning flight on Tuesday had been cancelled.

Rival budget airline Jetstar and Virgin Australia stepped in to help her get to her destination without charging Ms Hilbert for a ticket.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Jetstar, which is owned by Qantas, said: “We understand today’s news about Bonza will have a significant impact on many people’s travel plans.”

“For Bonza customers who are due to travel today or who are stuck away from home, Jetstar and Qantas will assist by providing flights at no cost where there are seats available.”

Qantas also released a statement offering employment support to Bonza staff affected by the airline’s collapse.

“We extend our thoughts to our aviation industry colleagues and their families – from pilots and cabin crew to flight planners and operations controllers,” it read.

“If Bonza employees would like to discuss recruitment opportunities within Jetstar and Qantas, particularly in specialised fields which are unique to aviation, we’ve set up a dedicated page on the Jetstar careers website.

“For any customers with a cancelled Bonza flight on a route we operate, to make sure you’re not further out of pocket, you can fly with us at no cost where we have seats available.”

Virgin Australia also extended its hand to staff seeking employment, describing the airline’s collapse as “sad”.

“When Bonza started in Australia, we welcomed its launch because competition makes us all better and benefits consumers. We are saddened to hear of Bonza’s current situation and the impacts on its people, customers and partners,” the statement read.

“We will do what we can to support Bonza’s employees by prioritising them for any current and future roles at Virgin Australia, and encourage them to contact our careers team at [email protected] if they wish.”

The airline also offered support to any passengers stranded mid-journey with complimentary seats, where available.

The three airlines’ quick response has been applauded by the aviation industry and Aussies alike with many branding it “the spirit of Australia”.

It comes as Bonza was forced to cancel multiple flights across both Queensland and Melbourne on Tuesday with the carrier’s CEO in discussions around the “viability” of the business, before announcing it has gone into voluntary administration.

Prior to Tuesday’s public downfall, there has been mounting speculation surrounding the airline’s financial position and possible repossession of leased aircraft.

According to reports, it is understood that Bonza’s financial backer, Miami-based firm 777 Partners, have called restructuring specialists KordaMentha for financial advice about its ongoing operations in Australia.

More Coverage

However cabin crew members claim the writing has been on the wall for some time now , with staff cost-cutting measures and “bandaid” solutions present for months.

The administrators have established a hotline for customers for any queries they may have on 03 8678 1600 .

– with Vanessa Brown

A flight attendant has shared the “most heinous, evil, diabolical” things passengers do on planes.

Passengers who were left stranded across multiple Aussie airports on Tuesday have been served another blow by Bonza’s administrator.

A sudden late-night meeting with hundreds of staff members has ended with six tragic words from the airline’s devastated CEO.

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• Cancellations

Australia’s Qantas probing reports of data breach at frequent flyers app

(Reuters) – Australia’s Qantas Airways said on Wednesday it was investigating issues impacting its frequent flyer application, after media reports suggested there was a data breach allowing users access to other passengers’ travel information.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

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Bonza cancels flights across Australia, enters voluntary administration, leaving passengers stranded

Budget airline Bonza entered voluntary administration on Tuesday after cancelling all flights that morning, leaving passengers stranded.

Look back on how the day's news and updates unfolded.

• 8:59 AM 8:59 AM Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 8:59am Government will not bail out Bonza 'right at this minute'
• 8:33 AM 8:33 AM Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 8:33am Problem appears to be with US-backer 777 Partners, expert says
• 7:53 AM 7:53 AM Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 7:53am Flights grounded until Thursday

To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.

Live updates

Hotline set up for bonza customers.

By Nicholas McElroy

The Transport Department has established a hotline for stranded passengers.

That number is   1800 069 244   and the line will be operating until 10pm tonight, the department says.

Customers can also call Qantas , Jetstar or Virgin 's customer service lines for assistance.

Transport Minister Catherine King says she expects Bonza to keep customers informed of what to do and that Bonza's board is currently meeting at the moment.

That's all for today

By Basel Hindeleh

We will be ending our live coverage here, but this is what you need to know.

The administrators, Hall Chadwick, have told customers not to go to the airport as the fleet will be grounded up to and including Thursday May 2 .

If you are affected by the flight cancellations you can call the hotline set up by the Transport Departement on 1800 069 244 which will stay open until 10pm tonight.

You can also call the hotline established by the administrators on 03 8678 1600   for any queries about the administration process and continued operations.

Customers can also call Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin's customer service lines for assistance.

The administrator will continue investigate the company's future over the next few days and will provide regular updates. It said it is conscious of the impact this has on airport and airline staff.

You can catch up on today's events by reading the live updates below or by reading these articles.

• Who owns Bonza airlines? And why is the company in trouble?
• Analysis: Bonza doomed to failure from the start, just like so many Australian airlines before it
• Passengers stranded, Bonza in administration in 'shattering news' for sector

Thank you for joining us.

Government will not bail out Bonza 'right at this minute'

Federal Transport Catherine King told ABC radio Melbourne Drive it is entirely up to the administrators whether Bonza's four planes were to continue to operate, but she speculates it will be unlikely.

She said the role for government is "to ensure that we have a strong aviation sector within Australia ... [but] can we bail out Bonza right at this minute? That is not something that the government has before us." "We'll talk to the administrators, but I would say that, you know, it is from time to time these smaller players do come into the market, and it is a challenging market. Aviation's hard, and aviation in a small market, Australia is certainly very difficult."

Problem appears to be with US-backer 777 Partners, expert says

Travel writer Geoffrey Thomas told ABC News Channel while it is not clear why this is happening the problem appears to be with Bonza's US-based backers 777 Partners.

"We know that the ownership of the four aircraft that Bonza has in Australia was changed and the new owner of those leases took possession of the aircraft this morning," Mr Thomas said.

He said once the administrators conduct their investigation it will become clear what had gone wrong, but the "finances seem to be awry."

He said Bonza's business model has worked elsewhere in the world and seemed to be going fine in Australia with the service being a favourite for regional travel with, but the 777 appear to not have been happy with the company's model or finances.

While other airlines have manged to survive administration, he said, Bonza is a bit different as it has had several issues in recent times and now faces the catalyst of losing public confidence making it harder to continue under the same branding.

You can listen to the full interview with Mr Thomas here.

Bonza's future is up to the administrators, transport minister says

The Federal Minister for Transport, Catherine King, says despite knowing since last week of issues with Bonza's finances and communicating with them since, the government only became aware of the situation at hand this morning when flights were cancelled.

Ms King said Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin immediately stepped forward to say they will bring stranded passengers home after speaking to them this morning.

She said the focus is on the passengers, of which there are many due to being at the tail-end of school holidays, but has not commented on whether the government will bail the company out.

She said the matter is now with the administrators which will decide whether the company can continue or if it will have to shutdown with the passengers with cancelled tickets joining a line of creditors.

Listen to the full interview with Ms King on RN Drive.

Flights grounded until Thursday

Accounting firm Hall Chadwick, which has taken administration of Bonza , has detailed the next steps for the company.

It says "the grounding of the fleet is currently up to and including Thursday 2 May 2024".

It advises customers not to travel to airports even if they have bookings.

At least 150 staff affected

By Bianca Clare

The ABC is still waiting on an exact breakdown of staff numbers who will be affected, but it understands there are roughly 150 Bonza workers between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne.

There will now also be uncertainty for other workers at the Sunshine Coast airport, including for ground crew with Oceania or security with Trident Security or Certis Security, given there will be a smaller number of flights going through the Sunshine Coast.

WATCH: Passengers react to news of Bonza's flight cancellations

By Lara Smit

Passengers react this morning to news of Bonza flight cancellations at Sunshine Coast, headquarters of Bonza Aviation, which has since gone into administration.

Melbourne's Avalon Airport advises passengers to find staff members in purple at the Bonza check-in area

Avalon Airport in Melbourne has advised passengers to head to the Bonza check-in area in the Domestic Terminal and look for team members in purple and to keep an eye on the Bonza website.

Last week Bonza denied reports of the airline seeking financial advice as flight reductions were confirmed

About a week ago Bonza confirmed flights on some routes would decrease, but denied reports suggesting it might have been in financial trouble.

The airline was in international headlines after reports in the Australian Financial Review suggested KordaMentha was being brought in by one of Bonza's financiers to provide advice.

KordaMentha declined to comment, saying they were under a strict non-disclosure agreement as with all their clients.

A spokeswoman for Bonza then said the reporting was "incorrect".

"KordaMentha has not been engaged by Bonza," she said. "They haven't visited Bonza and don't have access to Bonza in any way."

Read the full story here:

From the comments: 'We will miss BONZA'

Top service, I flew from Albury to Maroochydore return , I believe it was one of their well patronised routes. We will miss BONZA a no fuss Airline. - Denise

ABC reporter Greg Ryan captured this sunset picture from the last Bonza flight from Maroochydore to Albury late yesterday.

ANALYSIS: Bonza was doomed to failure from the start

Bonza was doomed to failure from the start, just like so many Australian airlines before it, writes Ian Verrender.

A quick look through Wikipedia reveals almost 300 defunct Australian airlines since we took to the skies last century.

Many were tiny regional operators, a few were amalgamated into bigger regional operators such as Rex — which has hung in there with thrifty management from its Singaporean owners — and a handful had grander ambitions that blew up in spectacular style.

Bonza, the latest upstart to come a cropper in one of the world's most cutthroat aviation markets, never really stood a chance.

It hit turbulence early on, even in the ideas stage as the pandemic wreaked havoc with airlines globally and international travel ground to a halt.

Read the full analysis by Ian Verrender here:

From the comments: Readers thinking of the staff at Bonza who could be left without jobs

While I do feel bad for the people inconvenienced by this, I feel much worse for the staff at Bonza. Some have probably turned up for work and found out that they soon might not have a job anymore, and for that I wish them all the best. - Nick

What does voluntary administration mean?

Documentation filed to ASIC shows that Bonza has entered voluntary administration.

If you're wondering what voluntary administration means precisely, my colleague Dannielle Maguire wrote an article when dessert maker Sara Lee went through the same process. Here's how she explains it:

Voluntary administration is an option for a company that's in financial trouble and can't repay its debts, the Fair Work Ombudsman explains.

It basically means a qualified manager from outside the business — usually involving a few experts from a consulting firm — is brought in to sort things out.

They look into the company's affairs and recommend whether it should:

• enter into a deed of company arrangement, which either aims to continue operations or provide a better return for creditors than an immediate winding up of the company
• go into liquidation, which is when the business is closed and assets sold off to pay its debts, or
• be returned to the directors

Bonza has entered voluntary administration

The notice was filed to   Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) earlier today.

It states that Richard Albarran, Kathleen Vouris, Brent Kijurina and Cameron Shaw from accounting firm Hall Chadwick have been appointed as external administrators.

This means there is an opportunity for the director or a third party to rescue Bonza, or for the company to be restructured.

The airline is yet to provide an update beyond a statement this morning apologising to customers.

It said " we're working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market."

Queensland's tourism minister waiting on details from airline

Queensland's Tourism Minister Michael Healy says the reports about the airline's commercial viability are a concern.

"Our immediate concerns are with stranded passengers and ticket holders who are impacted by the current situation with Bonza," he says.

"We recognise how important healthy competition in the aviation sector is to not just tourism, but the broader economy.

"We await further details from the business."

Unclear whether flights scheduled from Sunshine Coast airport will go ahead

Reporting by Kirra Grimes

Sunshine Coast airport has 33 Bonza departing flights and 33 incoming flights scheduled for the next seven days.

Flights scheduled for tomorrow include departures to Townsville, Cairns, Albury, Melbourne, and Darwin; and arrivals from Cairns, Townsville, Albury, and Melbourne.

Some customers are reporting that they were still able to check in for tomorrow's Sunshine Coast to Townsville flight.

The airport's website lists these flights as 'on time' or 'scheduled'.

But a spokesperson said they were yet to hear from Bonza as to whether those flights were going ahead.

"We haven't received any advice from Bonza," Ethan Clissold said. "Normally, we'd have a bit of back and forth about those sorts of things (flight cancellations), but we don't have an update at this stage."

Gold Coast airport's website advises people to contact Bonza directly for information on upcoming flights.

From the comments: 'It will be a shame if this is the end of such a great service'

I've flown with Bonza more than 26 times and couldn't fault them. They have made it possible for me to study in Melbourne and meet my parental obligations in regional Queensland, in a convenient and cost-effective way. It will be a shame if this is the end of such a great service. I always felt that places like Toowoomba weren't doing enough to leverage the opportunity that Bonza provided them, I encouraged friends to use Bonza to spend a weekend in the regions, but it felt like perhaps the local Chambers and tourism boards missed an opportunity there. I enjoyed very stable service from Bonza, We had a few flights cancelled early on, but that was due to schedule changes or bird strikes, and the services were rescheduled quickly and efficiently with consultation. I know some people have horror stories, but the current issues excluded, inflexibility is something to be expected on budget airlines, its the price you pay for the price you pay. - David

David has had very positive experiences flying more than 26 times with Bonza.

He says inflexibility is something to be expected on budget airlines: "It's the price you pay for the price you pay."

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Expert says Bonza's American owner can't keep bank-rolling the airline

Some aviation experts believe the budget airline Bonza will struggle to remain in service.

Impacted travellers have been told they'll get a full refund, while Qantas and Virgin have stepped in to help stranded passengers.

International aviation consultant Neil Hansford says Bonza's American owner can't keep bank-rolling the airline.

" I didn't see them lasting until Christmas and I think they have gone on past Christmas but the situation they have got is that their owners, their financiers, 777 Partners have got their own problems in the United States," he says.

IN PICTURES: Bonza airplanes remain grounded

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The Bonza fiasco shows action must be taken on Qantas’ market monopoly

If we're cracking down on market monopolies, our next target must be Qantas, which holds undue power in the aviation sector.

Michael Sainsbury

May 01, 2024

The financial administration of Bonza, Australia’s latest entrant into the aviation industry, whose flights have been grounded and aircraft repossessed, should sharply focus minds in Canberra to take action on a market dominated by “too big to fail” Qantas.

It’s a huge loss for Australian consumers, and Bonza staff, and yet another return to the bad, old days, with Qantas eyeing 70% of the domestic market. Yet it’s far from the first collapse of an aviation wannabe, following Compass (1990-91 and 1992-93); Ansett (1936-2002); Impulse (1992-2004); Ozjet (2005-06); Air Australia (2011-12); and Tigerair Australia (2007-20). 

The government continues to debate how to pull into line the two major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, but there are four viable players in that sector. Woolworths’ market share is 33%, Coles’ is at 27%, Aldi’s is at 12% and Metcash’s (IGA) is at 7%. Yet market concentration and power are far greater in the domestic airline sector, with Qantas Group dominating with a 61.8% market share and Virgin with 31.2%  — a combined 93% of the market at least. Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce liked to talk up his ambition to get to 70% , and there is no sign his successor Vanessa Hudson has plans to change that strategy.  

In a brief statement yesterday, Bonza founder and CEO Tim Jordan claimed the move was “temporary” and that discussions were underway regarding the “ongoing viability of the business”. But it’s hard to run an airline without planes. Meanwhile, corporate undertaker Hall Chadwick has been appointed .

Bonza had been taking a novel approach to the market, focusing on regional travel and using the Sunshine Coast as its main base, as well as the Gold Coast and Melbourne. It was competing for lower-end leisure dollars when interest rates and inflation were squeezing potential customers.

At its peak this past summer, the airline flew 35 routes and has carried 750,000 passengers since its first flight, using Boeing 737 aircraft rather than the more economical turboprops. To put that in perspective, 40 million passengers pass through Sydney Airport each year. It has not helped that its owner, US-based 777 Partners — which also owns soccer clubs (it’s currently trying to buy Everton) — is in all sorts of trouble , having been accused of breaching contracts, failing to pay debts and acting fraudulently.

But lack of access to the expensive and choc-a-bloc Sydney Airport also proved problematic, said industry insiders who spoke to Crikey . Each airport can charge its own landing fees and manage its take-off and landing slots, another failure of privatisation.

“This is a very large island. Aviation is critical infrastructure and we’ve got an aviation industry that’s broken,” Transport Workers’ Union secretary Michael Kaine said. And he is right: the sector is rife with cancellations and delays , with March statistics showing lower on-time arrivals and higher cancellations than long-term averages. Qantas’ fleet is stretched and ageing, and there is a shortage of pilots and engineers .

There is no shortage of initiatives the Albanese government can take that previous governments of both stripes have balked at. These include start-up subsidies and initiatives, industry-specific consumer protections and guarantees, an overhaul of landing slot allocation at major airports, better regulation of private airports, a refocus on safety after a string of disturbing incidents, and an obligation for training to future-proof the sector.

There was finally some action by Transport Minister Catherine King in February to shake up Sydney’s slot allocation for the first time in 27 years, but it came too late for Bonza. Just this week, the US passed legislation giving automatic refunds for cancellations and delays to airline passengers, reflecting exciting EU protections. However, King still drags her feet.

In terms of subsidised industry, apparently long-dated, risky investments such as quantum computing are better for Australians than an airline industry that delivers for consumers. If Bonza’s backers were not in such strife, a government-backed rescue should be on the table, given it would be small change compared to Qantas’ unrecoverable $2.7 billion COVID-era subsidies.

The failure of Virgin to overcome its financial hurdles and re-float this year underscores the fact that Qantas’ market dominance makes it an effective monopolist. The fact that Australian tarmacs are strewn with ghosts of failed competitors since Qantas was privatised shows how uncompetitive the market is and that much stronger measures are needed. 

“The two airlines within the Qantas Group — Qantas and Jetstar — are not considered to be in competition with each other,” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s latest report on the sector said.

Canberra needs to wield the stick in an inflation-prone sector with one dominant player, just as it has been urged to give regulators divestment power to break up supermarkets — and should involve a threat to force Qantas to divest from Jetstar. The low-cost carrier was created for exactly this: to see off any low-cost competitors in a sector where barriers to entry are extremely high due to the capital investment needed.

This is redoubled by Qantas being able to wield its balance sheet to give pilots and engineers better security and better pay. Qantas has 35% of the domestic market and Jetstar 27% , so a break-up would leave three players of similar size and more room for market minnow Rex (5.1%) to breathe as Qantas and Jetstar were forced to compete.

The demise of Bonza is just the latest sign that it’s time for the Albanese government, and Catherine King in particular, to act, proving they have not been captured by Qantas lobbying, spin and duchessing — and the controversial Chairman’s Lounge. It’s time to back consumers, not big air.

About the Author

South-East Asia Correspondent @sainsburychina

Michael Sainsbury is a journalist based in Asia with more than 20 years' experience writing about business, business politics and human rights across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

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If Bonza’s backers were not in such strife, a government-backed rescue should be on the table, given it would be small change compared to Qantas’ unrecoverable $2.7 billion COVID-era subsidies.

Just as the government has spent years backing out of transport and public ownership, here’s a great chance to even up the score and put some balance back into the airlines [Qantas would hate it] by replacing the current US group as backers of Bonza.

Bonza was a boom to many country towns. Its flights were appreciated and competitively priced, plus it was possible to fly from A to B without a stopover in Sydney or Brisbane. A flight from Port Macquarie to Melbourne took 1.5 hrs which was just brilliant compared to the alternatives.

Somehow, sometime we have to take steps to back out of our neo-Labor jam and have the government take charge and responsibility for things that are of key public interest. Hello Labor!

Do you mean Neo-Lib?

No, I think Neo-Lab is the new black.

“ Bonza was a boom to many country towns. Its flights were appreciated and competitively priced, plus it was possible to fly from A to B without a stopover in Sydney or Brisbane. A flight from Port Macquarie to Melbourne took 1.5 hrs which was just brilliant compared to the alternatives.” Yes, and ever wondered why it was a boom to country towns and why you could go from Port Macquarie to Melbourne in 1.5 hours? Because the routes were unprofitable. They knew it. This has happened before. Compass anyone. Impulse (no pulse) anyone. Ansett, our twin disaster to accompany 9/11 in the US. Competition does not work in Australian aviation with a second or even a 3rd Australian airline company. Yet we get people trying it on and bogans falling for the same 3-card trick every time. The managers are trying their luck while receiving a salary and they will exit clear and clean while their staff will be left to look for another job, another round of weeks and months looking for jobs that pay as much. This is a cruel hoax on them as much as it is on the “stranded” passengers. Drive you dimwits. Catch a train you lazy bastards. I aim never to fly again within my own country.

Yes, and ever wondered why it was a boom to country towns and why you could go from Port Macquarie to Melbourne in 1.5 hours? Because the routes were unprofitable. They knew it.

I’m not convinced that was the case but if there’s some figures around to prove it I’m happy to agree. I did hear an airline type expert on the ABC maintaining that their business model was good. Certainly they seemed to be filling their flights on the route I mentioned. The problem appears to have been with the organization they hired [do you hire them?] their planes from.

Trains? What trains? The interstate trains are abysmal and as an example, the Sydney to Brisbane run frequently resorts to transferring people onto buses.

Drive? If the whole planeload chose that option it would no doubt use even more fuel.

Ride a pushbike? Hard to carry the luggage.

And Tasmanians are expected to drive or catch a train across Bass Strait?

The government has wasted a great deal of political capital in allying themselves to this dodgy company on an I’ll-scratch-your-back-if-you-scratch-mine basis; that is that a national airline will come to the aid of the country in time of emergency. However, it has been a one way scratch as evidenced by Qantas leaving thousands of Australians stranded overseas during the covid crisis while all the time promising they’d help. Meanwhile they pocketed $2.7bn in public subsidies and sacked 6,000 of their workforce including illegally sacking 1,800 Australian baggage handlers. Australians now hate this airline. Catherine King must be seen to be doing something before the next election to reign in this out of control behemoth in order to distance her government from the stench emanating from this toxic brand, or pay the consequences at the ballot box.

From what I’ve read and heard Bonza was well managed. From personal experience I can say they were great to fly, the staff were genuinely enthusiastic and the business filled a vital gap in the market. The problem appears to have been, that there was a change of ownership for the actual planes and the terms offered by the new owners weren’t going to work for Bonza.

So the Bonza business didn’t do their homework, didn’t secure their future, didn’t secure their assets, didn’t have a backup plan. I would never fly with an airline with a slang adjective. Now it should be called something else nonsensical and unprintable. High Speed Rail or a VFT between Melbourne and Sydney and eventually on to Brisbane would render most airlines, including QANTAS redundant. This seems to be the only way to compete with QANTAS. On the ground by high speed rail. Nothing in the air is going to catch it.

And follow EU like competition directives and regulation that would require Qantas being broken up, landing slots reallocated etc.;

However, our corporate masters who wedge both ALP & LNP via media and are catered to, prefer running corrupt nativist authoritarian rackets without competition, but with socialist state support……

That’s unfortunate and reflects the limited buying power of a small fledgling airline. That it wouldn’t happen to Qantas is further reason that we need healthy competition in the industry.

Good point and arguments. I think there is a better chance for a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven than there is for Catherine King to get off her arse and do something constructive in this field.

Yes I agree the minister is not up to the job, but I suspect she is also being guided on this from above. It’s bad policy that needs addressing but so far nothing, zero, zilch.

She’s thoroughly captured by the fossil fuel/ carbon pollution industry. She does what she’s told.

I’m sure if Qantas was in a similar financial position they would have been propped up by the government. It’s a real shame Bonza is ending. They were offering a real alternative, especially for regional flights, with some routes being very popular.

BTW, I see Virgin is really sticking it to Qantas by offering free flights to those stranded by the Bonza collapse. It would be even better if they kept some of those popular Bonza regional routes going.

Qantas has been “propped up by the government” for decades. The latest during Covid as well as refusing to let Qatar airlines operate here.

“If we’re cracking down on market monopolies”. But we’re not. You’ve been misinformed. The very fact that it is being talked about means we’re not.

Yes. Action must be taken on QANTAS’s market monopoly. Nationalise the damn thing. It should never have been privatised in the first place.

And the absurdity of privatized airports should also be admitted to and reversed. As well as privatized train lines to take you (only a couple of stops for triple the price!) to get to them.

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Flight bookings made through a qantas office or a travel agent, 23/06/2022 • knowledge, information.

Can I pay for a flight booking made through a Qantas office or travel agent online?

If you made your booking through a Qantas office, and it is eligible, you can pay for your booking online at Manage Booking .   If you made your booking through a travel agent, you can’t pay for your booking online. However you can view your booking, add your Frequent Flyer number and check in online through Manage Booking .

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