Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines has ordered 15 Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes. The agreement also includes a commitment for five 787 Dreamliners to support the carrier’s long-term plan to launch international long-haul service.
On Friday (March 3, 2023), Boeing announced that Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) has placed an order for 15 737-9 MAX airplanes. The agreement also includes a commitment for five Boeing 787 Dreamliners to support the airlines long-term plan to start international long-haul service. The 737-9s will form the backbone of the new airline’s future fleet and will allow the carrier to increase frequencies between Hong Kong and major cities in Asia and Mainland China. GBA plans to leverage the extra capacity, range and efficiency of the 737-9 to lower trip costs as they expand their network.
In Friday’s announcement, Greater Bay Airlines’ Chairman, Wong Cho Bau, said,
“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.”
Also commenting on the new airplane order, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ CEO, Stan Deal, said,
“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.”
Currently, GBA is an all-Boeing carrier and operates a fleet of three 737-800s with flights to four destinations, including Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul. The carrier also plans to add more 737-800s to their fleet before taking delivery of the new 737-9s. The Boeing 737-9 MAX can seat over 190 passengers in a standard two-class configuration, and offers a range of 3,300 nautical miles. Delivering a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to the airplane it replaces, the Boeing 737 MAX Family brings enhanced efficiency, improved environmental performance, and increased passenger comfort to the single-aisle market. Since launching in 2011, over 100 customers worldwide have placed firm orders for more than 5,300 MAX Family airplanes.
Commencing operations in July 2022, Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) is a Hong Kong-based carrier offering scheduled passenger and cargo services. GBA plans to develop an extensive network to major cities in Asia and Mainland China, leveraging the opening of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in 2024.
Boeing (NYSE: BA) is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading supplier of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, as well as global services. The aerospace giant tops the list of the largest U.S. exporters, providing a significant positive impact to America’s annual GDP. Boeing supports government and commercial customers in over 150 countries and employs more than 160,000 team members worldwide. As Boeing continues to deliver for customers, they are committed to their legacy of aerospace leadership in technology and innovation and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.
Source: Boeing/PRNewswire