Greater Bay Airlines (HB, Hong Kong International) has applied to the Hong Kong Department of Transport for 104 route authorities covering China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mongolia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

The routes were left vacant following the demise of Cathay Dragon (Hong Kong International) and its subsequent merger into parent Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International).

As such, a government gazette published last week said nascent start-up Greater Bay Airlines had asked to operate the following routes using B737-800s (or equivalent):

China:

Taiwan:

Japan:

South Korea:

Thailand:

Singapore:

The Philippines:

Indonesia:

Malaysia:

Viet Nam:

Cambodia:

Myanmar:

Brunei:

Laos:

India:

Nepal:

Bangladesh:

Mongolia:

Northern Mariana Islands:

Micronesia:

and vice versa to be operated in any order or sequence with the ability to omit any point or points other than Hong Kong International. The application is for unlimited flight frequencies ferrying passengers, cargo, and mail but is subject to the terms of the relevant air services agreement.

Separately, Hong Kong Air Cargo (RH, Hong Kong International), the freight wing of HNA Group's Hong Kong Airlines (HX, Hong Kong International), has applied for unlimited frequencies to ferry cargo and mail on the following A330-200F-operated routes out of Hong Kong:

Hong Kong Air Cargo already operates five A330-200(F)s on scheduled flights covering Singapore, Malaysia, Viet Nam, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

The Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) has given 14 days for any objections/representations to be made for either of the applications following which it will make its decision.