Greater Bay Airlines is a proposed airline, to be based in Hong Kong. The airline is still awaiting approval, having applied for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) with Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department in July 2020. As of January 2021, Greater Bay Airlines Company Limited has yet to take to the skies, although hopes to begin operations later in 2021.
Not much has yet to be announced about the new airline startup, except that it will operate a low-cost business model and have its primary hub at Hong Kong International Airport, and has requested permission to operate flights from Hong Kong to mainland China, as well as to international destinations across Asia-Pacific, including Taiwan and Japan.
Greater Bay Airlines is being established by Bill Wong Cho-bau, an entrepreneur based in Hong Kong who is also the founder and chairman behind Donghai Airlines, another airline which primarily operates domestically within China, though it also flies to a few other countries in Asia.
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The airline has applied to the Air Transport Licensing Authority for the rights to operate scheduled services to 104 cities.
Half of these requested routes are within mainland China. The airline also hopes to operate international flights to Taiwan and destinations across Asia-Pacific, including the popular cities of Bangkok, Seoul, and Tokyo.
As the airline is in an early stage of startup, it has yet to announce what the baggage allowance will be for passengers.
The airline has yet to publish information regarding what the baggage allowance will be for passengers.
It is not yet known whether online check-in will be available.
The airline has yet to publish a statement regarding recommended check-in times. However, in most instances it is recommended that passengers arrive as early as possible, usually about 2 hours before the scheduled departure time.
More information regarding what cabin classes will be available (Economy, Premium or Business, for example) has yet to be announced. The 737 is a popular aircraft and is usually configured in a 3-3 formation, with ample storage space under the seats and in the overhead storage compartments.
Just like Donghai Airlines, Greater Bay Airlines will also operate Boeing 737s. These 737s will initially be leased, although the airline does have plans to grow to a fleet of 30 aircraft
Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok and is the main airport for Hong Kong.
As well as Cathay Pacific , the airport also serves as the main hub for Hong Kong Express Airways. Other airlines which use the airport include Air Astana, Air Seychelles, Bangkok Airways, Beijing Capital Airlines, British Airways, Air New Zealand, China Eastern Airlines, JetLite, Garuda Indonesia, PAL Express, and soon South Pacific Airlines.
Not much information has yet to be announced about the airline’s services. If the airline’s AOC application is successful, regional routes could begin in the next couple of years — even by summer 2021.
In the meantime, you can take a look at our guide to domestic flights within China for lots of information on airlines that provide domestic flights, includine popular routes and FAQs. If you're looking to fly to/from China to/from neighbouring countries in Asia, take a look at one of the following airlines: