News.com.au understands Mr Jordan, who has been at the helm of the airline since it took to the skies 15 months ago, together with a Hall Chadwick representative, held a video call with 260 employees on Thursday night.

During the meeting, it was alluded that employees have not been paid for their hours worked in April of this year, and will not be receiving any payment for hours worked at this stage.

It is understood prior to the airline entering voluntary administration, employees received wage payments on the 5th of each month.

One source told the ABC that employees were “screaming and crying” as they received the news.

“They [Bonza and administrators] said they can’t do anything — they are not in a position to pay anyone,” the source said.

News.com.au understands payment for entitlements — such as salary and annual leave — was a grey area.

Essentially, employees were told that if they remained employed by the airline while they are stood down (until May 7), there was a chance they would be paid for their labour, but only if the airline was still in a financial position to do so.

It was suggested by a spokesperson for Hall Chadwick that if they were to resign from the airline and take up full-time employment elsewhere over the next few days that would not be deemed as ‘casual work’, their chances of receiving that payment would be reduced even further.

It has put staff in a difficult situation with many left in limbo over what to do next as rent, mortgages and other financial commitments pile up.

However, news.com.au understands the administrator is seeking further advice and will communicate it back to employees on Friday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Hall Chadwick said there have been a number of requests for details regarding the financial position of the company, but the “information remains commercially sensitive”.

“[And] subject to ongoing investigation, and cannot be made public at this point.”

Speaking to news.com.au, a Queensland-based staff member – who asked to remain anonymous – admitted that “something has been going on” for a while and that the airline had been “tightening the strings” more and more.

“What’s become evident is that they are not feeding staff with crew meals or paid breaks anymore,” the staff member said.

“There is this ongoing feeling of tightening the strings … we are now limited to one bottle of water each, and no green tea.

“These kind of things are happening all the time.”

Hall Chadwick said it is in constant discussions with key industry participants within Australia and overseas regarding a way forward for the company and its operations after it into entered into voluntary administration on Tuesday following the grounding of its fleet.

“The largest consideration for these parties is the current status of the aircraft, which currently remains grounded,” the statement read.

“The administrators have had a number of discussions with the Lessors.

“As a result the grounding of the fleet will continue at least from Friday, May 3, 2024 to Tuesday, May 7, 2024.”

It said customers with bookings during this period are advised not to travel to the airport unless they have alternative travel arrangements.

“During this time, while the aircraft remain grounded, and there is insufficient cashflow and funding, the administrators are unable to recommence full operations,” the statement continued.

Majority of Bonza staff stood down

Bonza flights are grounded until at least next Tuesday, with the majority staff also stood down until that time.

“The administrators also have no alternative but to stand down the majority of the employees of the company,” it said, pending the “outcome of ongoing discussions”.

“The administrators appreciate this is not the news that the employees, customers, and other key stakeholders would like to hear however there is no alternative course of action available to the administrators at this point in time.”

Meanwhile, new reports reveal that Bonza is in discussions about selling the company to a local buyer.

Bradley Davren, CEO of AVCRO, which has provided MRO services to Bonza since the airline’s inception, exclusively told Australian Aviation, in his understanding, a “very serious commitment” had been made by an unnamed local backer before the aircraft were taken.

“They were in a position where ultimately the current owner could have just shifted that liability away from themselves and the airline would have kept moving fat, dumb and happy without issue,” he told the publication.

“To the best of my interaction with Bonza, a new investor would have simply shifted liability from 777 Partners to another entity and Bonza would have continued trading with the four MAX 8s still leased by AIP under the fiduciary responsibility and control of local investors.

“The lead backer, to my understanding, is very well-known and would absolutely do wonders for multiple reasons. Yet to be seen if that eventuates, but had that outcome come to fruition, I suspect you would have seen Bonza kick into overdrive.”

Mr Davren also said Bonza’s business model was working and it was not in financial trouble before the abrupt seizure of its fleet, which was carried out by AVCRO on behalf of the repossessors.