The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today issued an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) to new Australian airline Bonza after the carrier submitted final documents and successfully completed proving flights.
The AOC is the regulatory approval required by Bonza to fly scheduled passenger-carrying flights in Australia.
A specialist CASA team has been working with Bonza since it submitted its application last year, progressively assessing various components and providing feedback.
CASA Director of Aviation Safety and Chief Executive Officer Pip Spence said Bonza went through a rigorous assessment and validation process to ensure it could operate safely.
'This is a significant milestone and we congratulate Bonza on achieving its air operator's certificate,' Ms Spence said.
'The CASA and Bonza teams worked collaboratively throughout the application to ensure the airline's operations met Australia's high aviation safety standards.
'I would especially like to acknowledge Bonza's willingness to work with us on this complex process.'
Ms Spence said the AOC process was designed to ensure that everyone boarding an aircraft in Australia could do so with confidence and the knowledge they were travelling safely.
'All commercial operators in Australia have to go through this process, which considers how the operator will meet the required safety standards,' she said.
'Our assessment includes a thorough examination of technical documentation as well as verification and testing.
'The process examines whether the airline has the facilities, processes and appropriately trained personnel to comply with their operations manual.
'It involves conducting assessments of the carrier's proposed operations, facilities, aircraft and the aerodromes to which they operate to ensure that they meet our safety requirements.
'Australia has one of the safest aviation industries in the world and travellers should be assured when they get on a Bonza aircraft that the operator has been assessed in detail to ensure it complies with the same safety requirements as other Australian airlines.'
