New Hong Kong carrier Greater Bay Airlines granted air operator's certificate

Hong Kong startup Greater Bay Airlines said on Saturday it had received an air operator’s certificate, a key step in the process toward launching commercial flights. The airline, which still needs an air transport licence for commercial flights, plans to start operations with three leased Boeing Co 737-800 planes, the company said. It hopes to have seven planes in service by the end of 2022 and more than 30 by 2026, subject to market conditions, the company added. Greater Bay Airlines will be competing against the financial centre’s dominant carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and the far smaller Hong Kong Airlines. Greater Bay Airlines said it had applied for rights to operate to 104 destinations across the region, including mainland China, North Asia and Southeast Asia subject to a recovery in market conditions.<br/>