Start-up carrier Greater Bay Airlines has been granted a licence by the Air Transport Licensing Authority to operate over 100 routes from Hong Kong.
The airline plans to operate routes to mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and “destinations in the Asia Pacific region”.
As reported in January 2021, Greater Bay had applied to operate 48 routes to mainland China, as well as flights to destinations including Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo.
The carrier received its first B737 in September, and plans to take delivery of two further aircraft in the near future.
The airline’s website also states that “GBA plans to have seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft in service by 2022 and more than 30 by 2026”.
In a statement Greater Bay said that it would “adopt the business model which offers great attractive fares, flexibility and choice for customers which empower customers to choose and enjoy for what they want and afford to pay”.
As yet there are no confirmed launch dates for flight, with CEO Algernon Yau commenting:
“This is one of the most important milestones of a new airline entrant in Hong Kong. We received our Air Operator’s Certificate in October 2021 from the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong.
“Now, with the licence granted by ATLA, it means that we can expedite preparation and confirmation of other regulatory requirements and launch preparations, such as applying for operating permits from different aviation authorities of places we plan to fly to.”
“We are excited to bring a new airline choice to customers, at a time when travellers are yearning for the opportunity to fly again soon. GBA is committed to contributing to the continual aviation development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
“The airline industry helps generate trade, promote tourism, and create more employment opportunities for Hong Kong people. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank again my team and the regulatory authorities concerned. We look forward to the launch our inaugural service soon.”
The news comes as Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific recently released its latest traffic figures for January 2022, showing that the airline carried an average of just 797 customers per day over the month.
Cathay flew a total of 24,699 passengers during January, down 99.2 per cent on January 2019, as the carrier was forced to operate a skeleton service following continued travel restrictions and changes to quarantine rules for crew members by Hong Kong authorities.
Cathay Pacific carried fewer than 25,000 passengers in January
