Global Airlines Limited is a British virtual airline with a planned fleet of four Airbus A380 aircraft.[4] The company purchased its first aircraft in May 2023 and claims to be the first new Airbus A380 owner in eight years.[5] The company initially proposed to operate its aircraft with five classes of service including an uncertified "Gamer class", but later announced a conventional three-class cabin configuration.[6][7]
The company operated its first flight, from Glasgow to New York-JFK, on 15 May 2025, under a damp lease contract with Hi Fly Malta.[8] Following a mixed response, reports emerged that a Saudi investment fund might take a stake in the company, which would become an ACMI operator.[9]
After only four transatlantic flights, the single aircraft owned by the airline was placed into long-term storage in Tarbes, France on 16 July 2025, with no known return-to-service date.[10]
Corporate affairs
The company was created by James Asquith,[11][12] the founder of online travel company Holiday Swap.[11][12][5] The company has hired consultants including Richard Stephenson, former communications director for the UK Civil Aviation Authority and former Virgin Galactic investor Matthew Brown.[13][14][15][16]
At the end of May 2025, reports emerged that the business model could change following the mixed response to the four initial flights. Saudi investors are reportedly in negotiations to acquire a substantial stake in Global Airlines, which would acquire its own Aircraft Operators Certificate and become an ACMI operator rather than running scheduled operations.[9] Global Airlines stated that it is "not planning to change any strategy" and retains its goal of becoming a scheduled airline.[17]
Destinations
Global Airlines has no scheduled destinations. In March 2025, the company announced its intent to operate its first charter flight on 15 May between Glasgow Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The company announced a 'VIP Pre-Sale' for its first flights in March before revealing ticket prices one month later.[18][19] Tickets were sold by GA.FLIGHTS[20] who are trading under TravelOpedia Ltd that have teamed up with Global and Hi Fly Malta. The first flight was operated on 15 May 2025.[8]
The company's A380 remained parked in New York for four days before returning to Glasgow on 19 May.[21] After the first flights, the company operated another one-time service between Manchester Airport and New York on 21 May.[22]
Following these four flights, the aircraft was repositioned to Dresden for maintenance,[12][11] then ferried to Tarbes[12][10][11] for storage prior to heavy maintenance, with no future operations scheduled.[23] It is planned to be flown from Tarbes to Dresden in the near future for heavy maintenance work.[24][25][26][27][28]
Fleet
HiFly A380 - 9H-MIP - with the "Save the Coral Reefs" livery
The company purchased its first aircraft in May 2023, a former China Southern[12][11] A380. In November 2023, the company announced a maintenance and refurbishment contract with JETMS, a Lithuanian company that is certified to repair small executive jets and narrow-body regional aircraft.[29] The following month, it announced the appointment of Factorydesign as its 'cabin design partner'.[30]
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