Boeing adds 737, 787 orders

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) has ordered 15 Boeing 737-9 airplanes. The agreement also includes a commitment for five Boeing 787 Dreamliners to support GBA’s long-term plan to launch international long-haul service.

The Hong Kong-based carrier, which commenced scheduled service in July 2022, plans for the 737-9 to form the backbone of its future fleet as it seeks to operate more flights between Hong Kong and major cities in Asia and Mainland China. GBA plans to leverage the 737-9's enhanced capacity and range to lower trip costs and expand its network, benefiting from the opening of a three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024.

"The 737-9 will allow GBA to open up new routes from Hong Kong with unmatched economics," said Wong Cho Bau, chairman of GBA. "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."

GBA is an all-Boeing carrier currently operating a fleet of three 737-800 jets with flights to four destinations, including Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul. The airline also plans to bring in additional 737-800s to meet its expansion needs before the arrival of the 737-9s.

"GBA's commitment for 737-9s 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 737-9 can seat more than 190 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range of 3,300nm.

The 737 MAX family reduces fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces. Since the 737 MAX was launched in 2011, more than 100 customers have placed firm orders for more than 5,300 airplanes.

Boeing Graphic

In a separate announcement, Luxair, flagship of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is leasing two 737-8 jets and purchasing two additional.

Luxair will initially lease two 737-8s that are due for delivery for the busy summer travel season. It has additionally placed a direct order for two 737-8s.

Gilles Feith, Luxair CEO, said, "I want to thank our Board of Directors for this act of trust, our staff members who helped us in the last years, all our valued customers and Cargolux. Today marks just the beginning of the journey of securing the long-term future of Luxair."

In addition to significantly lowering CO₂ emissions, the 737-8 has a 50% smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces, according to Boeing.

The 737-8 seats 162 to 210 passengers depending on configuration and has a range of 3,500nm.

Luxair operates a fleet of 19 airplanes, including eight Next-Generation Boeing 737s.