Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines Cancels 128 Flights Due to Operational Issues

Greater Bay Airlines has canceled a total of 128 flights scheduled for February and March 2025. CEO Liza Ng addressed the cancellations at a Hong Kong media conference on January 22, firmly denying that financial difficulties were the cause. Instead, Ng attributed the disruptions to several factors, including delays in aircraft deliveries, overly ambitious scheduling, and the temporary grounding of two existing aircraft for inspections and scheduled maintenance.

“The suspension of flight services is not because of our operational or financial problems,” Ng stated. She further explained that an internal investigation uncovered “negligence” in the flight scheduling process, which led to an overestimation of the airline’s capacity to manage its flight operations effectively.

Despite the extensive cancellations, Ng assured that flights during the Lunar New Year period would remain unaffected. “I have to admit that we failed to make the ideal flight scheduling,” she added, acknowledging the shortcomings in the airline’s planning processes.

In response to the widespread flight disruptions, Mable Chan, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Logistics, has requested Greater Bay Airlines to submit a comprehensive report detailing the reasons behind the cancellations. Preliminary data has already been provided, with a more detailed report expected within a week. Chan emphasized that Hong Kong maintains regular communication and financial reporting protocols to safeguard passenger interests. To date, approximately 5,500 passengers have been impacted by the flight cancellations.

According to data from ch-aviation, Greater Bay Airlines operates flights to 15 airports across seven countries using a fleet of eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline had also placed an order for fifteen Boeing 737-9 planes, which were initially expected to begin arriving in August 2024. However, delays at Boeing have pushed the first delivery to the third quarter of 2025, with subsequent aircraft expected to arrive at a rate of two to three per year. Ng noted that these delays have significantly disrupted the airline’s flight schedules for the upcoming months.

Additionally, Ng confirmed that Greater Bay Airlines would be discontinuing its daily roundtrip flights between Hong Kong and Seoul Incheon. She explained that the route had underperformed, leading the airline to notify the relevant authorities in both Hong Kong and South Korea. However, the exact date when the flights will cease has not yet been announced.

Greater Bay Airlines serves a diverse range of destinations, leveraging its strategic position to connect major cities across Southeast Asia and beyond. The current fleet of Boeing 737-800s enables the airline to offer competitive services, although the delays in new aircraft deliveries have posed challenges to maintaining their flight schedules.

The decision to cancel flights during February and March comes at a critical time when the airline industry is still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Operational efficiency and fleet management have become increasingly important as airlines strive to balance passenger demand with available resources. Greater Bay Airlines’ experience highlights the complexities involved in fleet expansion and the importance of accurate flight scheduling to meet market needs.

As Greater Bay Airlines navigates through these challenges, the company remains focused on improving its operational processes and ensuring that future disruptions are minimized. The internal investigation into the flight scheduling negligence is part of a broader effort to enhance the airline’s reliability and service quality. By addressing these issues head-on, Greater Bay Airlines aims to restore passenger confidence and stabilize its operations in the competitive aviation market.

Passengers affected by the cancellations are advised to contact Greater Bay Airlines for rebooking options and further assistance. The airline is committed to resolving the issues promptly and resuming regular flight services as soon as possible. Moving forward, Greater Bay Airlines is expected to implement more robust scheduling practices and closely monitor aircraft maintenance schedules to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

The cancellation of 128 flights by Greater Bay Airlines in early 2025 underscores the operational challenges faced by the airline, stemming from aircraft delivery delays and scheduling missteps. While financial issues have been ruled out, the focus remains on improving internal processes to better serve the airline’s passengers and maintain its standing in the regional aviation market.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com