What Travelers Need to Know About Aviation Start-Up Global Airlines
One of the most ambitious new airlines to launch in decades is poised to take flight. The much-anticipated Global Airlines, which has built its brand around elevated customer service and upgraded in-flight comfort on Airbus A380 aircrafts, is planning to operate two round-trip flights from the UK to New York City's John F. Kennedy International (JFK) next month, founder James Asquith confirmed to Condé Nast Traveler on a call Wednesday.
The UK-based carrier's inaugural flight is scheduled for May 15, 2025, departing Scotland's Glasgow International Airport (GLA) at 1 p.m. local time and arriving at JFK airport at 3 p.m as flight Q4808, with a return on May 19 leaving at 8 a.m and arriving at 7:15 p.m on flight Q4809, as reported by Aeroroutes.
The following week, the second flight route will leave from Manchester Airport (MAN) on May 21, also at 1 p.m. and arrive at JFK at 3 p.m. as Q4810, and then return on May 25 at 8:55 a.m., landing back at 8:40 p.m. at Q4811.
The four flights, which each have 506 seats, divided between eight in first class, 17 in business and 428 in economy, 'were oversubscribed very quickly for the amount of seats that we have' founder James Asquith tells Traveler on a call Wednesday.
After all, aviation insiders and travel enthusiasts alike have been keeping a keen eye on the start-up airline, especially for its unorthodox business model. Most new airlines start by obtaining an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and then leasing an aircraft, but Global has done the opposite. It bought its own A380s, the first in 2023 and a second in 2024—a notable move since the iconic four-engine, two-deck superjumbo jet, well beloved by aviation enthusiasts, ceased new production back in 2021. 'We flipped it and own the aircraft and operate with a partner on the AOC side, which adds a lot of operational credibility,' Asquith says, of Global's partnership with Hi Fly, a Portuguese charter aviation operations company, which does have an AOC.
This unusual strategy has led industry reporters to be skeptical, with some aviation experts even claiming they don't have the certificates to operate. Also drawing criticism is the fact that ticket information remains vague for Global's inaugural routes, including who will be on board the May flights; a 'VIP pre-sale' list was made available via ga.flights to express interest in reservations, but the company has yet to respond to Traveler's queries about pricing and actual ticketing. Beyond the four flights in May, there isn't a flight schedule yet—or a timeline for one.
While the first two flights are trans-Atlantic flights, Asquith says the eventual goal is to take the airline to 'as many corners of the world as we can.' With time, regular flights and frequency will come, he adds. But as aviation expert Gary Leff points out, the UK start-up has yet to prove its credibility. 'I love new products and competition, but they keep making announcements about all of the things like caviar and Champagne that don't make them a real airline and reveal little about what will make them one,' Leff says, noting the original launch date had been 2024.
But Asquith says that criticism has always been there, and that he has systematically overcome each of the challenges. He's always prepared with a quick answer for every hurdle, including the environmental impact of these mega planes. 'If you fill it, it's as efficient as a Dreamliner, which is considered one of the most efficient aircraft in the world,' he says, adding that special effort is also being paid to minimize single-use plastics that so many airlines still depend on today.
While the announcement of the four flights marks a major step toward Global Airlines' launch plans, the aviation industry—and travelers—will be watching closely to see what happens next.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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