Greater Bay Airlines has been forced to cancel a significant number of flights, citing a combination of delayed aircraft deliveries and mandatory safety inspections of its existing fleet.
The carrier has been forced to cancel approximately 200 flights through to March 2025. The move has raised the concerns of Hong Kong’s Transport secretary Mable Chan.
The cancellations, primarily affecting routes to Japan and South Korea, have disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers.
Impact on Flights
Approximately 200 flights are expected to be disrupted between January and March.
While the airline has assured passengers that flights during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday will not be impacted. However, travelers with plans beyond that period should be prepared for potential changes.
Hong Kong’s Transport secretary Mable Chan has expressed concern, and requested a detailed report on the situation.
In a social media post, Chan said that the Transport and Logistics Bureau would meet with airline representatives to be briefed on the latest situation.
Reasons for Cancellations
The airline has attributed the cancellations to two primary factors:
Delayed Aircraft Deliveries
Greater Bay Airlines has been experiencing delays in receiving new Boeing aircraft. This has effectively limited its capacity to meet the demand for its popular routes.
Greater Bay Airlines has an order for 15 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Boeing has scheduled to commence deliveries in late 2024 and continue through 2027.These aircraft form an important part of the airline’s fleet expansion plans. These aircraft were planned to facilitate an increase in capacity and expand the airline’s route network.
Mandatory Fleet Safety Inspections
The airline is conducting mandatory safety inspections of its existing Boeing 737 fleet. These inspections require temporarily removing aircraft from service, further reducing the number of available flights.
Greater Bay Airlines has acknowledged the inconvenience caused by these cancellations and has taken steps to assist affected passengers.
The airline has been proactively contacting passengers to offer alternative flight arrangements or full refunds. Additionally, the airline has waived all associated fees for rebooking or cancellation to minimize the financial impact on passengers.
About Greater Bay Airlines
Greater Bay Airlines, a Hong Kong-based airline, commenced service in July 2022. It is a subsidiary of East Pacific (Holdings) Ltd., and its head office is located in Tung Chung, Hong Kong.
The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft, offering both economy and premium economy class seating.
Its primary hub is at Hong Kong International Airport, and it serves a network of destinations primarily in Asia. These include mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Greater Bay Airlines plans to expand its route network and fleet size, riding on the back of the opening of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024.
Looking Ahead
Although the airline has taken steps to address the current situation, it remains uncertain how quickly they can resolve aircraft delivery delays and complete required safety inspections.
Passengers with upcoming travel plans on Greater Bay Airlines should continue to monitor the airline’s website and contact them directly for the latest updates on flight schedules and potential disruptions.
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