Greater Bay Airlines today confirmed an order for fifteen Boeing 737 MAX 9. In addition, the agreement includes a commitment for five Boeing 787 to support the airline’s long-term international growth plan, the manufacturer said. Deliveries would begin in mid-2024.
The Hong Kong-based carrier’s interest in adding units of the latest type of Boeing’s iconic single-aisle aircraft family were known last February.
With the addition of the new airplanes, Greater Bay Airlines will be able to offer more seats and have greater range. They will become the mainstay of its future fleet and will enable it to expand its network of connections in mainland China and the rest of Asia. Full operation of the three runways at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), expected by the end of next year, would benefit these plans.
«The 737-9 will allow Greater Bay Airlines to open up new routes from Hong Kong with unmatched economics», noted Wong Cho Bau Bau, the airline’s chairman. «The new order will bring fantastic growth possibilities to Greater Bay Airlines and enable us to strive for excellence in an innovative way for our valued customers», he added.
«Greater Bay Airlines’ commitment for 737-9s is a major endorsement of our 737 MAX family and its ability to serve new markets», said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
A substantial change
Greater Bay Airlines currently operates a fleet of three Boeing 737-800, so the order will mean a substantial expansion and modernisation that will allow it to compete for a more significant share of the region’s market. In addition, the order strengthens the relationship between the airline and the manufacturer. In that sense, its completion is a victory for Boeing over its main rival, Airbus, which was also competing to supply its aircraft to the carrier.
The new airplanes will enable a reduction in operating costs and consequently higher profit margins, which will allow further investment to continue to increase the volume of operations: while the airline currently only operates flights from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo, fleet growth will support its regional expansion plans.
