SINGAPORE—Greater Bay Airlines will launch 5X-weekly Hong Kong (HKG)–Manila (MNL) service from Nov. 8, 2023, making the Philippine capital the seventh destination in the Hong Kong-based startup’s network.

Red-eye HB231 will depart HKG at 11:50 p.m. and arrive into MNL at 2:00 a.m. the next day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Return flight HB232 will leave MNL at 3:00 a.m. and land at HKG at 5:10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The route will be serviced by one of the airline’s Boeing 737-800s.

It is estimated that there around 190,000-200,000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong, the majority being domestic workers. The Hong Kong government is also taking active steps to attract Filipinos to return to the city to work, promising a pay hike and better working conditions.

CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser data shows there are five airlines providing 23,305 weekly one-way seats between the two cities. Cathay Pacific has the majority market share at 40.5%, followed by Cebu Pacific with 31.8%.

Greater Bay Airlines operates four 737-800s, primarily on international routes, and has 15 737-9s on order.