• 

  Boeing

  Stock Code:

  BA

  Date Founded:

  1916-07-15

  CEO:

  Dave Calhoun

  Headquarters Location:

  Chicago, USA

  Key Product Lines:

  Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787

  Business Type:

  Planemaker

Australian low-cost startup carrier Bonza is preparing to commence operations. Founded last October by Tim Jordan, the purple-liveried budget airline plans to have an operating base in Melbourne (MEL), as well as at Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY). Fleet-wise, it will fly the Boeing 737 MAX, one now having been fully painted.

New livery, not a new aircraft

As seen in the photograph above, there is no mistaking Bonza's striking purple and white livery. Last week, a partially painted example in the Seattle area raised eyebrows in the aviation community. However, while this held a considerable degree of intrigue, nothing beats a full livery, and this has now also been spotted.

According to FlightRadar24.com, the aircraft, which currently bears the Boeing test registration N5515X, flew in from Victorville, California (VCV) to Seattle's Boeing Field (BFI) on July 6th. Looking at ch-aviation.com, we can see that, while Bonza is a brand-new airline, this isn't the case for this particular Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Indeed, having first flown in June 2019, the aircraft is just over three years old. However, owing to the MAX's 20-month grounding, following two similar fatal accidents involving the type, it was initially unable to be delivered. This led to LOT Polish Airlines choosing not to take up the aircraft, which was meant to serve the carrier as SP-LVO. As such, Australia's new budget carrier has picked it up.

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Perfectly purple

When this aircraft enters service with Bonza, it will ditch its Boeing test registration for a new, Australian one namely VH-UJT. The last three letters of this are already visible just above the aircraft's nose gear. Examining the livery in closer detail, much of the rear of the aircraft is painted in Bonza's distinct shade of purple.

The carrier's logo, which features a hand making a thumbs-up gesture to form the letter 'b,' is painted in white against the tail's purple backdrop. Meanwhile, it also features at the front of the aircraft, but, in a reversal of the colors, it is painted purple against the white fuselage that is commonplace on many modern liveries.

The twinjet's two CFM International LEAP-1B turbofan engines are also painted purple, but feature Bonza's slogan instead of its logo. This reads 'Here for Allstralia,' perhaps signifying intentions to become a national staple of Australia's aviation scene. The only evidence that the aircraft was meant to fly for LOT can be found on the winglet, where the Polish carrier's logo is still present.

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Delayed start date

Had all been well, Bonza's flights would have been starting around now, as the carrier was initially targeting a July 2022 start date. However, in May this year, it opted to push this back to September. Nonetheless, Bonza is continuing to take key steps, having also revealed its uniforms last month. With plans to give free tickets to 'local legends,' the airline will certainly make waves when it does hit the skies.

What do you make of Bonza's first fully-liveried aircraft? Are you excited at the prospect of the carrier commencing operations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!