This Month
PE firm behind Bonza, Melbourne Victory calls in insolvency experts
The private equity firm called in advisers overnight to assist with “operational challenges”. It is a major shareholder in the A-League club and budget airline.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser
This airport is one of the world’s most scenic – and treacherous
Trekking in Nepal’s Everest region is on many a bucket list. But the adventure starts well beforehand, with a landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport.
- Alana Christensen
- Exclusive
- Aviation
Bonza hopes fade as VietJet walks from deal talks
The Vietnamese low-cost carrier confirmed it was out of the running as administrators prepare to ground the airline beyond their earlier midnight deadline.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser
Hedge funds are once again targeting Qantas
Almost $300 million has been bet against Australia’s largest airline, even as it attempts to repair its relationship with customers after selling tickets on flights that were already cancelled.
- Joshua Peach
Bonza in talks with six buyers despite owing $100m and losing planes
Creditors of the collapsed budget airline were told that it owed more than $100 million to backers, customers and staff after going under late last month.
- Ayesha de Kretser
How 777 Partners bad marriage doomed Bonza from the start
Documents pitched to investors prove Bonza could never succeed with the fleet it was leasing – a condition of its relationship with 777 Partners.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Bonza directors say they were blindsided by lease cancellation
The airline laid off staff and extended its flying outage to Tuesday because it can’t find planes.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Bonza’s sister airline cuts 777 Partners, restructures debt
Flair Airlines finds new backers as Bonza edges closer to the brink.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Bonza administrator still looking for new backers
Bonza’s move to enter voluntary administration is a “sad time for aviation and major blow for competition”, says the main body representing Australia’s network of airports.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Zoe Samios
April
Melbourne ranked Australia’s best airport and Doha world’s No.1
Singapore lost its top spot, but Asia shone elsewhere as Seoul Incheon came third, while Tokyo’s twin facilities of Haneda and Narita placed fourth and fifth.
- Alex Millson
New airline Bark bets big on $9278 flights for dogs
Pets are often flown to the wrong destinations or mishandled by airport staff. This private jet service, including “dog Champagne”, aims to solve that.
- Lebawit Lily Girma
March
- Analysis
- Boeing crisis
Boeing’s final chance to ‘clean house’ and end crisis
Stephanie Pope, Dave Gitlin and Patrick Shanahan are among possible contenders to take over as CEO as the aircraft maker struggles to restore confidence.
- Claire Bushey, Sylvia Pfeifer and Philip Georgiadis
Why this CEO is happy to admit he is ‘not particularly smart’
Intrepid Travel chief James Thornton says he did “OK” at school and isn’t that smart. But he was CEO by the age of 35.
- Sally Patten and Lap Phan
Forget supersonic, hypersonic passenger planes to be five times faster
A race is under way to launch a new generation of high-speed aircraft after the Concorde stopped flying in 2003.
- Lori Aratani and Monica Rodman
February
How this tour guide pivoted when Chinese visitors stopped arriving
Sydney-based tourism operator Justin Steele once his used Mandarin skills to attract Chinese travellers with bilingual tours. He doesn’t bother anymore.
- Gus McCubbing and Michael Smith
January
- Opinion
- Opinion
I have tried jet lag fix calculators. Here is what I learnt.
Science now understands how to fend off debilitating jet leg. It’s just that airlines and employers have not caught up.
- Pilita Clark
Fresh air routes to Europe in eight weeks
Turkish Airlines will fly between Istanbul and Melbourne from March, as the federal government seeks to put the decision to block extra Qatar Airways flights into Australia behind it.
- Patrick Durkin
Sayonara Santorini, Australian travellers look to Japan, Asia in 2024
Thousands of Australians descended on the Amalfi Coast last year, but many are expected to look elsewhere for a more affordable getaway this year.
- Tom Rabe
Walking, riding, sailing to CEOs’ favourite holiday spots
Leading chief executives worked hard in 2023, but they also discovered some places off the beaten track to get away from it all.
- Sally Patten and Euan Black
December 2023
The best discount airfares, and how to get double Qantas points
Virgin Australia and Qantas joined the post-Christmas sales, but there are conditions on cheap deals.
- Sally Patten