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The parents of the Australian brothers missing in Mexico have thanked everyone for their support as they begin a trip to the area where the two men and their friend were last seen.

Three people have been arrested and a burnt-out ute has been found as the search continues for Jake and Callum Robinson and their US friend Jack Carter Rhoad in Mexico.

Family and friends are appealing for assistance in finding the trio who went missing during a camping trip in the Baja California region, near Ensenada, after they failed to check into an Airbnb.

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The trio have not been seen or heard from since April 27.

Parents Martin and Debra Robinson said they were overwhelmed by the level of love and support.

"We know the Callum and Jake are much loved," the Robinsons said.

"We thank everyone, especially the police, DFAT, Australian embassy staff and other authorities, for continuing the search to find the answers we desperately seek.

"We are heading to the US/Mexico to be as close as possible to the area where they were last seen.

"Callum and Jake are beautiful human beings. We love them so much and this breaks our heart."

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The parents said Callum was living in the US to follow his dream of becoming a professional Lacrosse player and to represent Australia.

"He is widely known in the US as the Big Koala," they said.

"We think of him as our big soft friendly giant."

Jake left Australia two weeks ago to visit his brother.

"It was a trip of a lifetime to see visit his brother, before shortly taking up a new position at Geelong Hospital in Victoria," they said.

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Jake has spent time working in regional hospitals across Australia, always with a surf beach nearby.

The brothers had been to the Coachella music festival before heading to Mexico to surf.

"Jake is such a gentle soul and would want no harm," his family said.

"Our only comfort right now is that they were together doing something they passionately love.

"We ask people to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to continue to respect our privacy at this distressing time."

Mexican police reponse

A local police commander told 9News he feared the three men had ventured too far out of Ensanada to a remote area.

The brothers were driving a white Chevrolet Colorado ute.

Callum has type one diabetes, adding to his family's concerns.

This morning, the Baja California Attorney General, María Elena Andrade Ramírez told reporters, including 9News' Alison Piotrowski, that three Mexican people had been arrested in connection to the case.

Ramírez said the search was focused on three abandoned tents discovered south of the Ensenada region.

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A car matching the description of the Chevrolet Colorado ute has also been found burnt out on a nearby farm.

The search area takes in hundreds of square kilometres.

Ramírez told 9News that the investigation was "incredibly important" to Mexican authorities.

It had previously been reported that a woman was arrested.

9News understands a woman was found to be in possession of one of the brothers' mobile phones, but it has not been confirmed which man.

It's understood she turned the phone on, which caused it to ping a local cell tower and allowed authorities to track her down.

Mexican authorities said social media posts relating to the trio's disappearance sparked the police investigation.

It's also understood authorities found drugs on her when she was arrested.

Police said they conducted a large search today across the Baja Coast.

They said the search was large because they didn't have a lot of evidence at the moment.

First call for help

The brothers' mother took to social media to appeal for information or help yesterday.

"Reaching out to anyone who has seen my two sons. They have not contacted us since Saturday 27th April," she said.

"They were due to book into an Airbnb in Rosarito after their camping weekend but they did not show up."

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed DFAT is providing consular assistance to the family.

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Bonza staff have been stood down and told they won't be paid for work done in April, on the same day it emerged the airline received default notices two weeks before it cancelled all flights without notice and went into voluntary administration.

Transport Workers' Union (TWU) national assistant secretary Emily McMillan labelled the move to not pay workers "disgraceful."

"The shock of Bonza falling into administration has barely subsided and workers are being forced to enter Centrelink queues," she said.

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"It's appalling that Bonza has failed workers so spectacularly and that aviation workers are once again paying the price for a broken industry.

"These are hardworking people with bills to pay and families to feed. They are highly trained. This is a devastating blow and a cause for great worry in a cost-of-living crisis.

"Bonza's administrators must strain every sinew to find the means to pay these workers urgently. There is no greater priority than this."

Late last night, Hall Chadwick, which was appointed as administrators on Tuesday, said the budget airline was handed notices on April 17 by the company that owns its planes, AIP Capital.

Bonza continued selling tickets in the 12 days between receiving the notice and cancelling all of its flights.

It didn't expect to have its aircraft seized despite the notice, Hall Chadwick said.

"On 29 April 2024, at 11.51 pm AEST, the lessors of the aircraft leased to the Company (Bonza) issued notices to the company terminating their leases in place for the aircraft," a statement from the administrators said. 

"Amongst various other requirements, these notices required the company to immediately cease to operate the aircraft and keep the aircraft grounded and safely secured. 

"Whilst these notices were preceded by event of default notices issued on 17 April 2024, the directors of the company have advised the action taken by the lessors was not foreshadowed or expected."

More than 3000 Bonza passengers had to find alternate flights with Australia's other airlines following the sudden cancellations on Tuesday, federal Transport Minster Catherine King said.

Discussions between Bonza and AIP are continuing, with planes to remain grounded until at least next Tuesday.

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Hall Chadwick said Bonza doesn't have enough money to continue operations while its planes are stuck on the tarmac, and that most of its roughly 150 staff have been stood down.

"Meetings between the administrators, the interested parties and the lessors are continuing daily," the administrators said. 

"During this time, whilst the aircraft remain grounded, and there is insufficient cash flow and funding, the administrators are unable to recommence full operations. 

"The administrators also have no alternative but to stand down the majority of the employees of the company, pending the outcome of these above ongoing discussions."

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Hall Chadwick said it was unable to detail Bonza's current financial position.

It repeated yesterday's message that customers won't be given refunds anytime soon.

"The processing or issuing of refunds from the company cannot occur at this time,' it said. 

"Customers who have had their flights cancelled should contact their financial institution to discuss available options. 

"Customers may also wish to liaise with any insurance providers, in the event they have travel insurance for the bookings."

Almost a quarter of Australian homeowners are concerned about having to sell their properties due to cost of living pressures, as a new report revealed rising interest rates have cost mortgage holders a collective $60 billion in less than two years.

According to a survey by financial comparison service Compare the Market, 21 per cent of homeowners have sold or are worried about having to do so.

The company's economic director, David Koch, said it was the result of millions of people falling off the fixed rate cliff – having their fixed-rate mortgages expire and roll over to higher variable rates.

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However, he said it would be unlikely for all of those concerned homeowners to actually end up selling.

"Many people's savings buffers have been depleted, and now they're struggling to meet repayments," Koch said.

"But a forced sale is really the last resort – most homeowners will fight tooth and nail to hold onto their properties.

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"We know (stage three) tax cuts are coming in July, which should provide some relief. A predicted cash rate cut is hopefully underway in the second half of this year too."

The survey comes as fellow comparison service Mozo released a report into the total cost of the Reserve Bank's string of interest rate rises since May 2022.

It found the 13 hikes have cost Australian homeowners a collective $60 billion in increased mortgage repayments in less than two years – or roughly $3 billion a month.

"In comparison to other economies, Aussies really feel the pinch of every cash rate hike, and this can be seen in the exorbitant amount of interest now being paid on mortgages down under," Mozo banking and rates expert Peter Marshall.

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The Reserve Bank will hold its next meeting on interest rates on Monday and Tuesday.

While another hike is unlikely despite recent higher-than-expected quarterly inflation data, a cut isn't expected until around November.

"It's highly unlikely the RBA will hike the cash rate for a 14th time, but they'll certainly be indicating the risk of a hike in their statement next Tuesday," Marshall said.

"Announcing the risk of another rate hike is part of the effort to produce the same consequences, without having to actually hike the cash rate again, as the RBA won't want to increase the cash rate unless it's really necessary."

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