Monday, June 23, 2025
Greater Bay Airlines has officially applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption, marking a pivotal milestone in the Hong Kong-based airline’s efforts to broaden its international reach and establish a presence in the American aviation market. This significant move signals the carrier’s intent to initiate direct passenger service between Hong Kong and U.S. territories beginning in the winter 2025-2026 travel season.
First Entry into U.S. Market with Saipan Flights
The carrier intends to introduce two weekly flights linking Hong Kong with Saipan, the main hub of the Northern Mariana Islands, starting in the winter 2025 season. Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth in the western Pacific, will become Greater Bay Airlines’ first destination in American territories. The new route is designed to support growing demand for leisure and cultural exchange travel between East Asia and the Pacific islands, while enhancing regional connectivity for both Asian and U.S.-affiliated travelers.
Flights on this route will be operated using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which currently serve as the backbone of the carrier’s fleet. The deployment of narrow-body jets on this transpacific route reflects the airline’s focus on operating lean, efficient, and targeted services aimed at underserved niche markets.
Guam to Follow as Next U.S. Destination in 2026
Looking ahead, Greater Bay Airlines has announced its intention to further expand its U.S. presence by launching service to Guam, another key U.S. territory in the Pacific, beginning in 2026. This second route is expected to be served by the new Boeing 737-9 aircraft, which the airline has on order as part of its long-term fleet modernization and expansion strategy. The introduction of the larger, next-generation 737-9 will allow the carrier to increase seat capacity and improve fuel efficiency on longer-haul flights.
Guam serves as a key milestone in the airline’s Pacific expansion, strengthening its access to U.S. territories and underscoring its dedication to linking Greater China with prominent destinations known for tourism, commerce, and cultural exchange across the region.
Aligning with Bilateral Air Services Agreements
In its application to the U.S. Transportation Department, Greater Bay Airlines confirmed that the proposed operations align with the terms of the existing U.S.–Hong Kong Air Services Agreement. The carrier is requesting authorization to conduct both scheduled and charter operations, enabling the transport of passengers, cargo, and mail between Hong Kong and the United States, as well as to additional connecting destinations beyond. The airline emphasized its intention to serve not just point-to-point demand, but also offer onward connectivity beyond its immediate U.S. destinations.
This bilateral framework enables Greater Bay Airlines to pursue a long-term strategy of increasing accessibility for both American travelers looking to explore Asia and Asian travelers seeking to visit U.S. territories and beyond. With open skies provisions already in place, the regulatory foundation supports the airline’s entrance into the U.S. market.
Expanding International Footprint with Focused Growth
Founded in 2020, Greater Bay Airlines has steadily expanded its route network across Asia, operating scheduled services to major cities such as Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai, and Yichang. With a current fleet of eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline has positioned itself as a lean, low-cost competitor with a focus on underserved routes and high-efficiency operations.
The addition of 15 Boeing 737-9 aircraft in the coming years will play a central role in enabling the airline to scale its network and enter new long-haul and mid-range markets. The U.S. routes are a critical part of this forward-looking strategy, offering strong potential for passenger traffic growth, especially in segments driven by leisure tourism, diaspora travel, and small business activity.
The decision to begin U.S. operations with Saipan and Guam underscores Greater Bay Airlines’ strategic vision to focus on markets where it can make an immediate impact without entering congested or highly competitive air corridors. By serving U.S. territories in the Pacific, the airline avoids intense competition on transpacific routes to mainland U.S. cities while still capturing valuable traffic between Asia and America.
Strengthening Regional Competition and Connectivity
Greater Bay Airlines stated that the proposed services will not only broaden travel options for customers in both Hong Kong and the U.S. territories but also promote greater competition in the aviation sector. The airline’s entry into the U.S. market is expected to stimulate demand by offering new price points and flight schedules that appeal to cost-conscious travelers and underserved routes.
Moreover, the airline aims to facilitate economic exchange and boost tourism flows by connecting secondary Asian cities with emerging U.S. leisure destinations. This initiative also supports broader efforts to strengthen transport links across the Indo-Pacific region, in line with strategic economic development initiatives in Hong Kong and the U.S. Pacific territories.
A Strategic Leap in Transpacific Aviation
With its pending application and scheduled winter launch, Greater Bay Airlines is poised to take a significant step onto the global stage. Its entry into the U.S. aviation market marks a new chapter in the airline’s journey and presents a model of calculated growth focused on sustainable expansion, targeted destinations, and fleet modernization.
By launching service to Saipan and planning for future Guam operations, the airline is building a transpacific bridge that reflects the evolving travel landscape in the post-pandemic era—one where agility, efficiency, and underserved routes present new opportunities for competitive advantage.
As Greater Bay Airlines positions itself for long-term success, its foray into U.S. airspace signals not just the expansion of a young airline, but a redefinition of cross-Pacific connectivity that could reshape travel patterns for years to come.
