When the Accom News team first saw this story, we all took a step back.
Our first reaction when hearing the ‘Bonza launches Bonza Budgies’ news was that the airline was planning to have its cabin crews wear ‘budgie smugglers’ swimwear inflight.
Coming straight to mind was the stunt by VietJet Airlines back in 2017 which had the airline swimming in controversy.
Vietjet was fined 20 million Dong (approx. AUD1240) after five of its cabin crew donned bikinis to perform a mid-flight dance posing as beauty pageant contestants, without permission from Vietnam’s aviation authorities.
Happily, depending on your point of view, the story actually revolves around Bonza’s appointment of Total Image Group (TIG) to manufacture the airline’s first-ever uniform range.
While the official flight crew outfits have yet to be made, the outfitter’s first task is to create bespoke swimwear, including the ‘Bonza Budgies’, which is intended to be sold to passengers inflight when the carrier takes to Australian skies in mid-2022.
The swimwear is made in Australia using recycled plastic bottles.
Bonza’s chief commercial officer, Carly Povey said the new uniforms, to be unveiled in coming months, will be a key part of communicating what Bonza is all about and demonstrating its difference to what Australians have seen before in terms of airlines.
“Uniforms are so often functional in nature but far from fun to wear, we believe both can and should be achieved,” she said.
“Our uniforms will be designed with our legends in mind. We want them to be worn with pride by those who welcome our customers every day.”
Phew!
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
