Bonza cabin crew use app to change service rules

People living in regional areas can look forward to more direct and affordable travel with 25 routes not flown by other airlines.

"I love regional Australia. I truly, truly do, but occasionally we all want to get out," Bonza CEO Tim Jordan told ACM.

In their first three days of trading, the airline sold more than 10,000 seats on their Boeing 737s.

Travel should be simple and affordable, Mr Jordan said.

"People want to fly non-stop from where they live to where they want to go, and home again," he said.

"As quickly as possible, and at a great fare."

The airline's app claims to revolutionise Australian in-flight hospitality, according to Mr Jordan.

The app will update passengers about schedule changes and issues, and provide food and drink vouchers to those that might be delayed.

Mr Jordan said despite delivering bad news with instant delay notifications, he believes passengers will appreciate guidance when things go wrong.

"We're challenging some norms and almost dragging the industry into the 21st century," Mr Jordan said.

"We're trying to harness some of the technology that was forced upon us all through COVID," he said.

Passengers can also say goodbye to the cart service, with food and drink purchases made discreetly through the app.

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Gone are the days of waiting for the cabin crew to slowly wheel the trolley past, only to lean across two row-mates to order a coffee and an orange juice.

"The app is used to purchase food and drink, there is no menu," Mr Jordan said.

"The team will bring that directly to you," he said.

Bonza is recruiting for cabin crew members, and Mr Jordan said the airline is looking for employees with a sense of empathy.

"That's the single largest positive a crew member can bring," he said.

Bonza is also hiring cabin supervisors, captains and first officers.

Training for cabin crew members is intense but rewarding, new recruit Danny-Ross Pappin told ACM.

The excitement of travelling the country, particularly to regional towns, has kept him motivated through the training.

"Bonza are flying regional routes, and I'm country at heart," Mr Pappin said.

Mr Jordan hopes Bonza can connect families and friends separated by pandemic lockdowns and give regional areas greater access to Australia.

"It's about getting into regional centres, if you're not lucky enough to live in one," he said.

"And being able to get out, when you want a city fix," the NSW north coast local said.

Regional residents occasionally want to "look at tall buildings, go to the footy, go to the theatre," he said.

The airline spent 14 years in development and has changed shape a number of times, he said.

"Ultimately the market will dictate how big we will be," Mr Jordan said.

Routes between Bonza's Sunshine Coast hub and Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton and Avalon will launch mid February.