-
Advertisement
Hong Kong aviation
Hong KongTransport

Exclusive | Hong Kong mogul Bill Wong looks beyond Covid-19, ready to hire pilots as he prepares Greater Bay Airlines for take-off

  • Wong expects to spend HK$2 billion preparing Greater Bay Airlines to fly by middle of 2021
  • ‘Value carrier’, to launch in Hong Kong, will target leisure travellers, aim to provide premium service at lower prices

Reading Time:8 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Bill Wong, boss of Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines, talks with the Post about his new Hong Kong-based venture. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Danny LeeandLilian Cheng
Bill Wong Cho-bau, a Hong Kong tycoon who invests heavily over the border, is making a HK$2 billion (US$258 million) bet with his launch of a new city airline that will focus on a region expected to recover fastest from the coronavirus pandemic.

He hopes his Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) will get approval from Hong Kong authorities to take off next summer, and it will start with three Boeing 737 jets.

At a time when global airlines are reeling from the pandemic, which has paralysed international travel, grounded aircraft and led to massive job cuts, including in Hong Kong, Wong expects his new airline to be ready to run five to seven jets by the end of next year, and 30 aircraft by 2025.
Advertisement

“If I launch an airline in Hong Kong, I can make use of the synergy and network in the Greater Bay Area – from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong – and gain the most out of it,” said Wong, a property mogul who also owns Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines.

In an exclusive interview with the Post, Wong said he expected to spend HK$2 billion on obtaining regulatory approval, as the airline must hire staff and secure aircraft to demonstrate its safety and operational credibility. So far, HK$500 million has been spent.

Advertisement

He is ready to hire pilots, particularly those laid off recently from Cathay Dragon, which has been shut down by parent Cathay Pacific. 

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x