BOEING: GREATER BAY AIRLINES ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR 15 737-9 AIRPLANES

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) and Boeing recently announced an order for 15 737-9 airplanes. The agreement also includes a commitment for five 787 Dreamliners to support GBA's long-term plan to launch international long-haul service.

The new Hong Kong-based carrier said the 737-9 will 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.

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 a number of additional 737-800s to meet its expansion needs before the arrival of the 737-9.

The 737-9 is designed to seat more than 190 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range of 3,300 nautical miles, providing operators added capacity and increased profitability within their network.