Greater Bay Airlines, a newly launched Hong Kong-based carrier, announced an order for 15 Boeing B737-9 airplanes on Friday, the agreement also includes a commitment for five B787 Dreamliners to support the airline's long-term plan to launch international long-haul flights.

The carrier, which began services in July 2022, said the B737-9 would form the backbone of its future fleet as it seeks to operate more flights between Hong Kong, major Asian cities and the Chinese mainland. It plans to leverage the aircraft model's enhanced capacity and range to lower trip costs and expand its network.

"The B737-9 will allow GBA to open up new routes from Hong Kong with unmatched economics. The new order will bring fantastic growth possibilities to GBA and enable us to strive for excellence in an innovative way for our valued customers," said Wong Cho Bau, Chairman of GBA.

Currently, GBA boasts an all-Boeing carrier operating fleet of three B737-800 jets with flights to four destinations, including Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul. The airline also plans to introduce more B737-800s to meet its expansion demand before the arrival of the B737-9 aircraft.

"GBA's commitment for B737-9 is a major endorsement of our 737 MAX family and its ability to serve new markets," said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The B737-9 is designed to seat more than 190 passengers, between two classes, with a range of 3,300 nautical miles.

Greater Bay Airlines said it plans to develop an extensive network of flights to major cities in Asia and the Chinese mainland from Hong Kong, taking advantage of the soon to be three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024, which will further strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub.

zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn