Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines granted an operating licence

The Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) has awarded an operating licence (OL) to Greater Bay Airlines (HGB, Hong Kong Int’l) effective immediately and covering 104 routes in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and countries in South-East Asia.

“Under the licence, Greater Bay Airlines Company Limited may operate scheduled journeys for the carriage in Hong Kong of passengers, cargo or mail over 104 routes at unlimited frequency from and to Hong Kong International Airport,” the ATLA said in a statement.

The licence will be gazetted on February 25 and is valid through February 20, 2027.

The start-up obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in October 2021 but has since been embroiled in a bureaucratic tussle over its OL, necessary to commence scheduled flights. According to local reports, the delays were caused – at least partially – by concerns raised by flag carrier Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int’l) about the impact of increased competition on the territory’s embattled aviation market. Reacting to the delays, Greater Bay Airlines deferred its launch to an unspecified date in the second quarter of 2022. Chief Executive Algernon Yau Ying-wah welcomed the development and said that scheduled flights would begin “soon” but has yet to provide a detailed timeline for their start.

Greater Bay Airlines currently operates a single B737-800, which has been deployed on proving flights to destinations such as Macau Int’l, Taipei Taoyuan, Singapore Changi, and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The start-up plans to add a further two B737-800s shortly and has been considering a large order for new-generation narrowbody jets.