Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) has placed an order for 15 Boeing 737-9 aircraft 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.

The new Hong Kong-based carrier said it plans to leverage the 737-9's enhanced capacity and range to lower trip costs and expand its network.

"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."

In a statement, Boeing said 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.

"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 will provide GBA with unmatched efficiency and reliability and lower operating costs while continuing to provide a premium on-board experience for its passengers."

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.

The 737 MAX family also delivers enhanced efficiency, improved environmental performance and increased passenger comfort to the single-aisle market while offering excellent economics and reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the aeroplanes it replaces.

Since the 737 MAX was launched in 2011, more than 100 customers around the world have placed firm orders for more than 5,300 aeroplanes.

Greater Bay Airlines is a Hong Kong-based carrier offering scheduled passenger and cargo services.

The airline, which commenced scheduled service in July 2022, has the plan to develop an extensive network of air services to major cities in Asia and Mainland China from Hong Kong, riding on the back of the opening of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024.

Hong Kong welcomed the city's Air Transport Licensing Authority's decision to grant a licence to GBA in February 2022, a few months after it received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) in December 2022.

Under the licence — issued on February 21, 2022 — until February 20, 2027, Greater Bay Airlines may operate scheduled journeys for the carriage in Hong Kong of passengers, cargo or mail over 104 routes at an unlimited frequency from and to Hong Kong International Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs.