Ayra Wang and Stacy Shi
Greater Bay Airlines chief executive Liza Ng Shiow-lan apologized yesterday for the cancellation of 128 flights between Japan, South Korea and Thailand scheduled for February and March.
Ng assured that these disruptions will not affect flights during the Lunar New Year.
She attributed the cancellations to several factors, including delays in the delivery of new aircraft and the need for regular inspections of existing planes.
Ng acknowledged the airline’s shortcomings in notifying passengers and managing flight schedules, and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to about 5,500 affected travelers.
”I have to admit that we failed to make flight scheduling ideal,” she said.
Ng said 15 Boeing airliners, which should have arrived last August, are now expected in the third quarter of this year due to transportation issues.
This delay, coupled with two existing aircraft undergoing inspections, has significantly disrupted the flight schedule for the coming months.
She reaffirmed that the airline will proactively contact affected passengers, including those booked for Seoul after April, to facilitate flight changes, refunds or transfers to other airlines, with potential compensation based on individual circumstances.
Ng also announced plans to terminate the Seoul route, with notifications already sent to authorities in Hong Kong and South Korea.
In response, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said her bureau has met with the airline’s management and urged them to file a report within a week.
Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun, executive director of the Travel Industry Council, said nearly 300 locals from about 20 tour groups have been affected.
Law Cheung-kwok, a senior adviser at the Chinese University’s Aviation Policy and Research Centre, believes the cancellations were avoidable.
He said delays in aircraft delivery are foreseeable.
As of noon yesterday, the Consumer Council reported receiving two complaints related to the incident, involving HK$7,964, and advised affected passengers to retain payment records for refund claims.
