Embedded Files
[Weekly Traveller] [Hong Kong News] [Aviation] [Business] A New Budget Airline Prepares to Launch in Hong KongBy Oscar Lee - August 30, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic turned 2020 into the worst year in the history for the aviation industry with dozens of bankruptcies, widespread layoffs and record levels of revenue losses that are projected to continue into 2021. In the midst of this, the Hong Kong Aviation sector is about to become a bit more interesting as a new Hong Kong-based budget airline, Greater Bay Area Airline, prepares to begin operations. Soon, Hong Kongers will have another option to get to their destination.
Founded in 2010 by Hong Kong property tycoon Bill Wong, Greater Bay Airlines was established in response to the Central Government’s national strategy for developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the integration of Hong Kong into Chinese Mainland’s overall development. With the construction of Hong Kong airport's third runway and additional infrastructure connecting Hong Kong with the rest of the pearl river delta, it was seen as a golden opportunity to start an airline in Hong Kong. In their business plan, they wrote "We believe the 55,000-square-kilometer Greater Bay Area will become a hotbed of financial and technological growth in the years to come. Our aim is to expand existing accessibility to the region by offering quality passenger and air freight services to its combined population of 86 million people."
GBA airlines will be focusing on offering short-haul routes across Asia to customers at a low price similar to HK Express (which is now owned by Cathay Pacific). They have already applied for the rights to fly 104 routes across Asia, with nearly half being routes to mainland China. The low-cost carrier is looking to start out with 300 staff members and 3 leased 737-800 with an aim to expand their staff numbers to around 2800 employees and 30 planes by 2025.
One advantage going for them is that lots of the routes GBA applied for were left vacant after the closure of regional airline Cathay Dragon as part of Cathay Pacific's restructuring efforts meaning they could easily just pick up the market share left by Cathay Dragon. So, could GBA end up becoming a major player in Asia's aviation sector or will they just be another airline in a long list of failed airlines? Only time will tell. Until then, I will be following them closely.
Page updated
Report abuse