Greater Bay Airlines Plans Flights to Saipan and Guam

Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines has applied to the US Department of Transportation for permission to operate scheduled passenger flights between Hong Kong and the United States, specifically between Hong Kong (HKG) and Saipan (SPN) in the Northern Mariana Islands later this year and Hong Kong and Guam (GUM) next year.

The Northern Mariana Islands are a US territory, specifically a self-governing commonwealth in political union with the United States, while Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States.

The June 12, 2025, filing says Greater Bay Airlines wants to fly twice weekly to Saipan using B737-800s and start flights to Guam once they get their first B737-8 aircraft, currently scheduled for 2026.

The application is made under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 41301, and subparts B and C of the department’s Rules of Practice in Proceedings (14 C.F.R. §§ 302.201 and 302.301, et seq.), part 211 of the department’s Economic Regulations. The United States and Hong Kong signed a bilateral air services agreement in 1997 that remains in force.

No airline flies the Guam – Hong Kong city pair. However, Hong Kong Airlines does fly twice weekly between Saipan and Hong Kong using A320-200s.

“The authority requested herein is consistent with the terms of the U.S. – Hong Kong (air services) Agreement,” the filing notes.

The twice-weekly flights would result in 584 seats per week becoming available, although Greater Bay Airlines forecasts filing just over 400 of those (based on an average passenger load of 70%). On that basis, the airline would generate revenues of HKD480,000 (USD61,150) per flight. Less expected operating expenses of HKD236,444 (USD30,120), Greater Bay Airlines says it expects to generate a profit of HKD243,556 (USD31,030) per flight, or HKD25,329,824 (USD 3,226,790) per year, assuming two roundtrips per week.

Greater Bay Airlines presently operates eight 189-passenger B737-800s, and it has fifteen B737-8s (also known as MAX 8s) on order. The airline flies to 19 airports in five countries around North and Southeast Asia.

You can read the Department of Transportation filing here.

Photo: Greater Bay Airlines.