Bonza customer and staff are in a holding pattern as the airline tries to resume services. The budget carrier has gone into voluntary administration and says planes will be grounded until Friday. But there is still no word on what will happen after that. The administrators say they are not in a position to give refunds at this time.
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TVTranscript
00:00 This avid plane spotter wasn't going to miss the chance to see a Bonser aircraft while he still can.
00:08 "Oh very sad really just to see it all sitting here not going under, not going anywhere. You know they've given it a fair crack."
00:17 Now the airline's broken and could be beyond repair.
00:21 "The administrators, we've been speaking to them overnight, they're trying to get the airline back up and running. I think they've got to look at the books a fair bit."
00:28 Bonser has been a bonanza for tourism operators.
00:32 Flights to Albury and Mildura brought 100,000 visitors to the Murray River region alone last year.
00:39 "It's been an exceptional 12 months and we really hope if Bonser does not continue to fly, someone else will come in and take up that capacity."
00:48 Sunshine Coast tourism groups are reworking their marketing strategies.
00:52 Hundreds of holidaymakers flooded in every week thanks to the budget carrier.
00:57 "When we ask people, you know, how was your flight, plane trip and how many people, those planes are packed. They're packed every single time."
01:06 "It had provided hope to a lot of regional communities with very little flight links."
01:12 The Transport Workers Union tried to meet with management a week ago when rumours were rife for financial turbulence.
01:19 They've still not heard back from the company which employs more than 150 people.
01:24 "We know this is an ongoing and emerging issue but we're extremely concerned."
01:29 It's a particularly bitter blow for experienced Bonser staff, many of whom have endured company collapses before, not to mention massive disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
01:41 "Our hearts break for these workers."
01:43 Who are now anxiously waiting to see what the next few days hold.
01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]