HONG KONG -- The Air Transport Licensing Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday granted a five-year license to Greater Bay Airlines Company Limited to operate scheduled air services.

Under the license that came into effect on Monday, the airline may operate scheduled journeys for the carriage in Hong Kong of passengers, cargo, or mail over 104 routes at an unlimited frequency from and to Hong Kong International Airport.

The HKSAR government welcomed the grant, noting that the license approval demonstrates that the market has full confidence in the prospect of the aviation industry in Hong Kong.

The government said Monday in a statement that it believes that Greater Bay Airlines will provide more diversified air services to the market and will further strengthen the air transport connectivity between Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and other parts of the world.

"This will play a positive role in upholding Hong Kong's status as a leading international aviation hub," read the online statement.