Greater Bay Airlines informations and photos

Greater Bay Airlines Limited (Chinese: 大灣區航空有限公司), is a Hong Kong-based airline established as Donghai Airlines in 2010, and rebranded in July 2020. To date, the company has completed one charter flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok, however the company plans to operate to other destinations in China and Southeast Asia.

Greater Bay Airlines established on 24 May 2010, is an airline under the East Pacific (Holdings) Ltd., at that time, the airline was called Donghai Airlines Limited. On 17 January 2019, the airline's name changed to Donghai Airlines (Hong Kong) Limited, while on 05 December 2019 the airline renamed as Hong Kong Bauhinia Airlines. Later on 08 July 2020, the airline renamed again as Greater Bay Airlines.

In July 2020, the Greater Bay Airlines applied for the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department.

In November 2020, Bill Wong Cho-bau, the Chairman of the airline stated that, he expected the airline would get the operation license and start it's operation by summer 2021 with three Boeing 737-800. The airline is planning to serve major cities in Mainland China such as Beijing, Shanghai and provincial capitals, as well as second-tier tourism cities. Moreover, Bill Wong also expected the airline would operate routes from Hong Kong to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia.

On 22 January 2021, according to a public filing gazetted announced by the Hong Kong Government, Algernon Yau Ying-wah, the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Bay Airlines had applied over 100 routes from Hong Kong International Airport to Mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, while half of the destinations are in Mainland China.

On 29 January 2021, Algernon Yau suggested that the airline would prepare a plan B as a fallback plan, which is starting with cargo services first instead of passenger services if the COVID19 pandemic conditions still not suitable for passengers flights in late-summer this year.

On 05 February 2021, no Hong Kong based airline submit representations and objections against Greater Bay Airlines bidding for the air traffic rights after a 14 days deadline, while Cathay Pacific Airways, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines submitted a sort of position statement to the Hong Kong Government.

On 08 August 2021, Stanley Hui Hon-chung, the Director of Greater Bay Airlines stated that the airline expected to get the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) on 17 September this year, it is planning to launch a charter flight to Beijing, the capital city of the Mainland China on 01 October 2021, during the celebration of 72nd anniversary of the People's Republic of China. The flight is a symbolic of the airline's development plan to operate flights from Hong Kong to the capital, as well as the worldwide. However, for getting the license from Air Transport Licensing Authority is getting harder as another competing airline deploy any means to slow down the process for Greater Bay Airlines entry into the Hong Kong market.

On 07 September 2021, the first aircraft of Greater Bay Airlines (prefix B-KJA) departed from the Kazakhstan's capital: Nur-Sultan, it's midway stop between Hamburg, Germany and Hong Kong at 09:14 Hong Kong time. Later at 15:24 Hong Kong time, the aircraft touched down in the airline's based airport: Hong Kong International Airport. According to the airline's official website, the airline is expecting to operate scheduled flights from Hong Kong to Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket in the fourth quarter of 2021.

On 08 September 2021, after the first hearing for Greater Bay Airlines attended by the Hong Kong based carriers, the Cathay Pacific Airways requested 28 days preparation time for the second hearing for Greater Bay Airlines. The Air Transport Licensing Authority decided to hold a closed-door hearing in late December in order to weigh responses from the current Hong Kong based airlines, since Cathay Pacific as well as Hong Kong Airlines suggested that the current difficult operating environment of airlines should be taken into account as to whether this is the best time to introduce a new competitor into the Hong Kong market. Which makes Greater Bay Airlines launching its first scheduled flight within 2021 impossible.

On 11 September 2021, Algernon Yau stated that, the airline would need to postpone its launching date to first quarter of 2022 due to the private inquiry hold by Air Transport Licensing Authority in late December 2021. Yau suggested that the leasing fee for the aircraft are over one million Hong Kong dollars per month, with more aircraft arriving and the staff salaries cost which are increasing the financial pressure for the carrier, however, currently the airline remains cash healthy.

On 08 October 2021, the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department has issued the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) to Greater Bay Airlines, which allows the carrier to launch charter flights while waiting for the operating license from the Air Transport Licensing Authority.

On 23 November 2021, Algernon Yau mentioned that the airline hopefully would begin its scheduled commercial flights by the second quarter of 2022, in which he admitted that the delay of getting the scheduled flights operating license might be an impact for the airline's cash flow, but currently the company is not under financial pressure. Singapore, Phuket as well as Bangkok are the ideal destinations for launching in 2022, furthermore, the airline would also try to launch flights to Beijing and Shanghai in its early phrase. Due to the travel restrictions during the COVID19 pandemic, Yau stated that the airline will rely on cargo services till the restrictions are lift.

On 29 November 2021, Greater Bay Airlines launched its first commercial charter flight, which depart from Hong Kong (HKG) same-day round trip to Bangkok (BKK) with flight number HB8660 and HB8661.

On 06 January 2022, Greater Bay Airlines signed an agreement with one of the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) company: Amadeus. Travel agencies worldwide will be able to check the airline's schedules and fares, as well as booking tickets via the Amadeus Travel Platform in the first quarter this year. Moreover, the flights of Greater Bay Airlines will commence in the same quarter, subject to regulatory approvals by the Hong Kong Government.

According to company registry records there are a total of nine directors appointed on 12 January 2021, including the company's founder Bill Wong Cho-bau, his wife Lai Wai Kwan, his uncle Albert Li Chee Man, SF Express Chairman Wang Wei, former Cathay Dragon Chief Executive Algernon Yau Ying-wah, former Security Bureau Secretary Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, former Hong Kong Airport Authority Chief Executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung, Hong Kong Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen and Hong Kong Executive Councillor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung.

On 18 August 2021, Wang Wei, the SF Express Founder and Chairman resigned from the board.

Greater Bay Airlines uses Boeing 737-800 as its main aircraft type, the aircraft are leased by ICBC financial leasing company.

On 02 August 2021, Greater Bay Airlines received its first aircraft in Guangzhou (Temporary Aircraft Registration: D-AAGB) just after the aircraft painted in the company's colour. The aircraft was flown to Hamburg, Germany for flight testing afterwards. On 06 September, the aircraft left Hamburg and started flying to its destination: Hong Kong, via Nursultan, Kazakhstan. The aircraft (Aircraft Registration: B-KJA) landed in Hong Kong on 07 September in the afternoon.

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