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Aviation start-up Koala Airlines has survived a winding-up application in the Victorian Supreme Court.
The application, which had been filed by apparent creditor Wealth Creation, was on Wednesday dismissed with the consent of both parties, with no orders made as to costs. It comes after Australian Aviation exclusively reported on the application earlier this month.
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Koala had gained some attention in national press, including the ABC’s Four Corners, following the collapse of Bonza and Rex last year as a potential new competitor to the domestic duopoly of Qantas Group and Virgin Australia.
On its website, Koala – founded in 2018 by industry veteran Bill Astling – features numerous renders of 737 MAX 8s in its own livery, the same aircraft type used by Bonza before its liquidation.
Despite Koala claiming to hold the Air Operator’s Certificate CASA.AOC.0317, no such AOC exists in the CASA register, with the closest entry – CASA.138AWK.0317 – being registered to the state of Western Australia.
The company, which purchased Desert Air Safaris in 2019, said it aims to “carve out a unique niche that enhances the industry landscape without disrupting existing standards by creating a lasting impact on the industry”.
“Koala’s strategy will fundamentally differ from previous entrants in a domestic market which has been long dominated by two major airlines since the Australian government first introduced the Two Airline Policy in 1952,” the website reads.
“Under this protectionist policy, only two airlines were allowed to operate flights between state capital cities and between capitals and nominated regional centres. It was not until 1990 that the government relaxed the policy to allow competition in the market.
“While many new low-cost carriers have entered the market since 1990 and focused solely on offering cheaper fares, almost entirely leading to unsustainable competition, Koala is taking a more innovative route.”
Koala also owns Koala Tech, which it described as a “groundbreaking technology platform designed to revolutionise the aviation industry” and said is “at the forefront of its strategy”.
“By streamlining operations and enhancing decision-making processes, Koala Tech’s solution is set to transform how aviation businesses operate, driving efficiency, accuracy, and smarter management across the board,” the company said.
“This platform represents a significant leap forward in leveraging AI to optimise every facet of aviation business, from logistics and maintenance to customer service and beyond.
“The result is significant cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency, giving us a leading position in the market.”
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says:Well that is great to hear that in theory it works but please show me the proof. I still think you are dreaming.
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says:So is Koala an airline or a tech company?
YSSYRamper
says:It sounds like he is just saying things to sound impressive.