Despite having only commenced operations last summer, low-cost carrier Greater Bay Airlines has wasted no time in implementing impressive fleet growth plans. It reached a key milestone on this front today, with the announcement of an order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, as well as committing to five Boeing 787s.

The rumors are true

Last month, Simple Flying reported that Greater Bay Airlines was said to be eyeing a 15-aircraft order for Boeing's next-generation twin-engine narrowbody jetliner. Whispers at the time suggested that the carrier would order the MAX 9 variant with 200-seat configurations, and deliveries starting in mid-2024. These plans have now come to fruition, with Boeing's Stan Deal saying in a statement today that:

"GBA's commitment for 737-9s is a major endorsement of our 737 MAX family and its ability to serve new markets. 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."

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With Greater Bay Airlines already being an all-Boeing operator, this new order further strengthens its relationship with the US planemaker. As part of the deal, the Hong Kong-based low-cost carrier has also placed a commitment for five 787s. The model has not been specified, but, either way, this part of the agreement will play a key role in expanding the carrier's footprint on longer-haul routes.

As the fleet grows, so will the network

At present, Greater Bay Airlines is operating a small fleet, and flying to just four destinations from its Hong Kong hub. These are Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, and Tokyo. However, going forward, the addition of 15 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to its fleet will enable further network growth. Wong Cho Bau, the carrier's Chair, states that:

"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."

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The airline also plans for these modern twinjets to become the backbone of its fleet in years to come. Interestingly, despite having allowed Boeing 737 MAX operations to recommence more than a year ago, data from ch-aviation.com suggests that there are presently none of these aircraft registered in Hong Kong. As such, Greater Bay Airlines' order represents an important milestone for the type.

Greater Bay Airlines' present fleet

As it stands, ch-aviation's data lists just three aircraft as being registered to Greater Bay Airlines. While these also belong to the wider Boeing 737 family, they are, as pictured above, examples of the older 737-800 model. They have an average age of 5.9 years old, and seat 186 (two) or 189 (one) economy class passengers.

Unlike its incoming Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, which it will receive brand-new, Greater Bay Airlines received its three existing 737-800s on a second-hand basis. Previously, these aircraft had flown for Norwegian and its subsidiaries.

What do you make of this order? Have you ever flown with Greater Bay Airlines? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Source: ch-aviation.com

• 

  Boeing

  Stock Code:

  BA

  Date Founded:

  1916-07-15

  CEO:

  Dave Calhoun

  Headquarters Location:

  Chicago, USA

  Key Product Lines:

  Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787

  Business Type:

  Planemaker