Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Long awaited Greater Bay Airlines' first flight takes to the skies

Long awaited Greater Bay Airlines' first flight takes to the skies

The first flight of Greater Bay Airlines finally took to the skies and headed to Bangkok on Saturday morning after more than two years of preparations, as the airline called on the government to cancel the returning quarantine requirement as soon as possible.
Around 9am this morning (Sat), only a dozen travelers checked in at the counters for the 10.30am flight.

Jodie Lai Yuen-yee, head of marketing and customer experience, said passengers can also check in at the counters by the Skypier but refused to disclose the number of passengers taking this flight, citing commercial reasons. Still, flight tickets were found available as of 7pm Friday.

Lai also hoped the government could cancel or shorten the existing seven-day quarantine requirement for returnees under certain conditions, as it is one of the reasons citizens postpone their non-urgent traveling plans. Scrapping the quarantine measure could be a critical step in reviving the aviation and tourism sectors as well. she added.

The Air Transport Licensing Authority granted the airline a license in February to operate 104 routes until 2027, with almost half of the destinations being mainland cities. Other destinations include Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Lai continued that it takes time for the airline to apply to operate overseas routes, and announcements will be made upon successful applications.

Lai believed Greater Bay Airlines is advantageous as people in Hong Kong and on the mainland love traveling abroad. Hongkongers travel at least two to three times a year and some even more. In addition to the vast population of the GBA, this new flight company could be a huge business opportunity, she noted.

The pilot named Leung said he was glad to fly the airline's first flight and start a new chapter in the city's aviation history. Leung pointed out that the airline will expand its fleet to over 30 airbuses and provide more promotion opportunities and jobs in the future.

When asked about the worsening pandemic situation, Leung said he was not so worried and believed authorities have tactics to deal with it. He also expected the aviation sector would soon bounce back with the third runway construction completed.

Later today, at 5.10pm, a flight HB661 from the Thai capital will arrive in Hong Kong. Flights traveling to and from Bangkok will be flown every Wednesday and Saturday as the airline begins its services.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×