Greater Bay Airlines approaches lessors for initial aircraft

Hong Kong start-up Greater Bay Airlines has approached leasing companies to acquire its first aircraft with which it hopes to begin operations as early as next summer, Cirium has learned. The airline, which according to Cirium data is backed by Donghai Airlines owner Bill Wong Cho-bau (known as Huang Chubiao in mainland China), is in talks with ICBC Leasing to lease three Boeing 737-800s, according to multiple sources in Hong Kong. A source at a major non-Chinese lessor says it was approached by the airline, but did not have suitable aircraft. Sources say lessors have plenty of 737-800s available to lease in the current market. China’s Kunming Airlines is seeking proposals from lessors for the lease of three used 737-800s to compensate for 737 Max delivery delays. Two lessors with access to the RFP say there are around 20 bidders and that some 100 aircraft have been offered. Greater Bay Airlines’ interest lies only with the older generation -800, not with the newer 737 Max, grounding of which was lifted by the US FAA on Wednesday. That preference for the older model would be in line with Donghai Airlines, which launched services in 2006 and has a fleet of 23 Boeing 737-800s, according to Cirium data. The airline, a subsidiary of Shenzhen East Pacific Group, has its base in Shenzhen and hubs at Changchun and Zhengzhou.<br/>