Greater Bay Airlines (HB, Hong Kong International) has filed for a US Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) to begin scheduled operations from Hong Kong International to Saipan and later to Guam International, contingent on the deliveries of its delayed B737-9s.

The carrier said that the route to Saipan, the capital of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), an unincorporated US territory, would be launched in the Winter 2025/26 season using the B737-800 type. It aims to serve the island 2x weekly and will formally mark Greater Bay Airlines' debut on the US market.

Flights to Guam are tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026 with the B737-9s.

Greater Bay Airlines has fifteen B737-9s on firm order from Boeing and last year told ch-aviation it was expecting the first two in April and May 2025. As these timeslots have come and gone, the airline has not shared an updated delivery timeline. Due to geopolitical tensions between the US and China, Boeing has paused all deliveries to the country. They are supposed to restart shortly but have not yet.

GBA also has a non-binding commitment for five B787s from Boeing. It currently operates eight B737-800s.

In its FACP application, the carrier revealed its ownership structure. It is wholly owned by East Pacific (Holdings) Limited, a Hong Kong enterprise. The parent holding is, in turn, co-owned by three Hong Kong nationals: Wong Cho Bau (80% stake), Lai Wan Kwan (15%), and Li Albert Chee Man (5%). Wong also owns the mainland's Donghai Airlines and Donghai Jet, while Lai and Li have ties to the Shenzhen real estate business.