Budget Australian airline, Bonza, has postponed all flights out of Melbourne Airport today, leaving potentially thousands of passengers stranded.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan released a statement at around 8am this morning, announcing that all flights would be “temporarily suspended” as the future of the company is discussed.

“We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market,” he said.

The cancellations came after the airline declared that it would be reducing the number of all national flights available. Images of a Bonza aircraft being towed at Melbourne Airport also emerged after the announcement.

Virgin Australia has said on X that they will “immediately support any passengers stranded mid-journey by offering complimentary seats on Virgin Australia-operated flights to the airport nearest to their final planned Bonza destination”.

Transport Minister Catherine King said she is in contact with both Virgin and Qantas to assist the passengers left grounded due to the cancellations. King also said a hotline will be made for when events like this occur in the future.

“My Department is in the process of establishing a hotline for stranded passengers and we will get that number out to media as quickly as we can.”

Photo: Bonza Boeing 737-MAX 8 VH-UIK ‘Bazza’ on approach to Runway 34 at Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport by Philip Mallis is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.