Start-Ups Greater Bay Airlines orders 15 Boeing 737-9 for fleet expansion

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) started operations nearly a year ago, after the carrier received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) back in 2021. This new order for 15 Boeing 737-9 shows the ambitions of the airline to operate more routes throughout the Asian landscapes.

The airline wants to expand its network and has chosen the 737-9 for their purposes. The aircraft will become the new backbone of Greater Bay Airlines as the carrier seeks to operate more flights between Hongkong and major cities in Asia and China. Right now, GBA operates with a fleet of the 737-800 with flights to four destinations.

In addition to the 737 MAXs, the purchase deal also includes a commitment for five Boeing 787 Dreamliners. With these long-haul aircraft, Greater Bay Airlines wants to expand into the international service market in the future.

Regarding the 737, Wong Cho Bau, chairman of GBA, commented: “The 737-9 will allow GBA to open up new routes from Hong Kong with unmatched economics. […] The new order will bring fantastic growth possibilities to GBA and enable us to strive for excellence in an innovative way for our valued customers.”

„GBA's commitment for 737-9s is a major endorsement of our 737 MAX family and its ability to serve new markets," added Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737-9 will provide GBA with unmatched efficiency and reliability and lower operating costs, while continuing to provide a premium on-board experience for its passengers.“

In addition to the current 737-800s, with which the carrier serves Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul from Hongkong, and the 737 MAX, the airline also wants to integrate more used 737-800s to expand the fleet.

Greater Bay Airlines is a Hong Kong-based carrier offering scheduled passenger and cargo services. The airline, which commenced scheduled service in July 2022, has a plan to develop an extensive network of air services to major cities in Asia and Mainland China from Hong Kong, riding on the back of the opening of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024.