Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) will add a fifth destination to its network from April 28 with the inauguration of three times a week Hong Kong-Osaka flights.
It also will increase Hong Kong-Seoul to four times weekly from April 24.
GBA launched its first Hong Kong-Japan service – to Tokyo’s Narita Airport – in January.
GBA competes against Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific and HNA Group affiliate Hong Kong Airlines (HKA).
Hong Kong-Osaka is an extremely busy route.
Cathay currently flies to Osaka’s Kansai Airport four times a day using long-haul widebody aircraft.
Cathay’s HK Express budget offshoot operates to Osaka three times a day at the moment.
HKA serves Osaka twice a day for the time being.
Japan’s Peach Aviation also offers a daily nonstop service on Hong Kong-Osaka. Its parent – All Nippon Airways (ANA) – has yet to resume the route. Pre-pandemic, ANA offered a daily flight.
At present, GBA operates leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft in an all-economy class layout.
Hong Kong’s newest airline commenced scheduled services last July.
The start-up now operates from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul and will expand its network as more aircraft arrive in its fleet.
GBA has placed an order with Boeing for 15 737 Max 9 aircraft.
The airline said the 737 Max 9 will form the backbone of its future fleet as it seeks to operate more flights between Hong Kong and destinations in Asia Pacific and China.
The Boeing agreement also includes a commitment for no less than five 787 Dreamliners to support GBA’s mid- to long-term plan to launch international long-haul service.
