Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines eyes Boeing 737 MAX/A321neo order

Greater Bay Airlines (HGB, Hong Kong Int’l) is eyeing an order for up to 30 new-generation narrowbody jets, either B737-10s or A321-200Ns, a source has told Bloomberg.

“We shall continue to revisit our aircraft needs to match with customer needs and our expansion strategy under the dynamic market conditions,” head of marketing Jodie Lai commented.

For now, however, the start-up backed by Bill Wong Cho-bau, a Hong Kong-based businessman who has invested heavily in mainland China and owns Donghai Airlines (DZ, Shenzhen), is still struggling to secure its Air Transport Licence. A December closed-door hearing scheduled by the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA), reportedly in response to opposition from Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int’l), has not resulted in a decision as yet.

Greater Bay Airlines applied for 104 route rights vacated by Cathay Dragon (KA, Hong Kong Int’l) a year ago. The ATLA told the Chinese-language Ming Pao daily that it had yet to process the applications, as route rights cannot be granted to an airline that has yet to secure an ATL.

The start-up secured its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) on October 8, 2021, but without an ATL, it can only operate charter and cargo flights. It therefore hopes to secure its ATL in time to launch in the second quarter of 2022.

Greater Bay Airlines’ current fleet comprises a single B737-800, which is operating proving flights between Hong Kong Int’l, Taipei Taoyuan, Macau Int’l, and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. It has existing commitments for a further two units of the same type. Previously, the airline outlined plans to increase its fleet to ten aircraft by the end of 2022.