Greater Bay Airlines launches flights to Japan’s Yonago to woo Hongkongers amid price war
Hong Kong carrier first local airline to offer air travel to city in Tottori prefecture, expanding its coverage beyond Tokyo, Osaka
Greater Bay Airlines is opting to explore routes less travelled with plans to expand its flight coverage to more cities in Japan as part of an aggressive scramble for customers as carriers in Hong Kong engage in “cutthroat” competition.
The city’s smallest carrier has set its sights on the city of Yonago in the western region of Tottori prefecture to cater to avid tourists from Hong Kong and to expand its flight destinations in Japan beyond Tokyo and Osaka.
Starting late last month, the company has been operating return flights between Hong Kong and Yonago Kitaro Airport every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The airline is currently the only local carrier to offer air travel to the city.
With the launch of the new route, the airline now covers eight destinations, including Taipei, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila and Haikou in Hainan province.
A Post search on the carrier’s website showed that a return ticket for a trip to Yonago between November 14 and November 19 was priced at HK$2,618 (US$336).
Airline CEO Liza Ng Shiow-lan said the company was battling “cutthroat” competition from other airlines, with the carrier opting to explore novel destinations, particularly in a country as popular as Japan, to build up customer appeal.
