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Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
I flew on hyped new airline claiming to bring back 'golden age'
Global Airlines is promising a return to the 'Golden Age' of air travel - but what's it really like to fly on board the A380 from Manchester to New York with the new carrier? If you've ever jetted off from Manchester Airport to the Big Apple, your airline choices likely included Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic, perhaps even British Airways connecting via a London airport. But brace yourselves for a sky-high revolution as a new contender, Global Airlines, promises to channel the charm of yesteryear's glorious air travel days. Arriving seemingly out of the blue, Global Airlines is taking on established heavyweight carriers, deploying the mammoth "Superjumbo" Airbus A380 as its weapon of choice. The venture kicked off in 2021, steered by entrepreneur James Asquith – the same high-flyer who challenged the hospitality sector with Airbnb competitor Holiday Swap and snagged a Guinness World Record as the youngest bloke to trot across every nation on the globe. Taking under his wing a seasoned 12 year old A380 that once graced the skies with China Southern, 'millionaire' Asquith – new to the aviation industry but not to travel – added the behemoth to his fledgling fleet in May 2023. He's been upfront about it: launching an airline has always been his boyhood fantasy. But is this vision genuinely within reach? Here's the grand blueprint: refit the airliner into a bastion of class-straddling splendour, including a unique gaming cabin, a lively onboard pub, and the inception of a newfangled travel category that blends the luxuries of business with premium economy's value. Passengers can anticipate the novelty of boarding a four-engine, double-decker colossus — a dwindling thrill as most airlines favour smaller, easier-to-manage machines. Emirates remains one notable exception, still cruising triumphant with three A380s leaving Manchester daily. The inaugural Global Airlines flight, operated by Hi Fly, from Glasgow to New York JFK on May 15 received mixed reactions, with the much-anticipated 'gamer cabin' missing and the aircraft retaining a strong China Southern vibe. Youtuber Josh Cahill didn't mince words in his review titled "Global Airlines STRANGE First Flight and it was VERY BAD!", slamming the airline for failing to meet expectations. However, The Independent's travel expert Simon Calder offered a contrasting view, describing the journey as a "very comfortable flight" and a "fascinating event". Despite its grandiose name, Global Airlines isn't actually an airline and lacks an operating licence; it's legally run by Portuguese carrier Hi Fly, with Travelopedia handling the ticket sales. I joined the second Global Airlines flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on May 21, and it turned out to be one of the most bizarre flights I've ever experienced. From check-in to take-off, with plane enthusiasts peering through the airport fence, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. However, as the flight progressed, it became evident that the Global Airlines experience is still very much a work in progress. The branded headrest covers, vanity kits and flight menus were no match for the obvious signs of 12 years' wear and tear inside the aircraft. Strip away the icons from any major airline and you'd get a fairly good idea of who you were flying with based on brand identity alone. But take the Global Airlines branding out of the picture, and you wouldn't have a clue which company's aircraft you were in – not exactly confidence-inspiring in times when brand trust is everything. However, taking a seat on an Airbus A380 was undeniably a highlight. The plane attracted plenty of excitement, especially from several YouTubers who were there capturing every moment of the journey – cameras seemed to emerge left, right, and centre over passenger seats. Amongst them were the renowned travelling couple Kara and Nate, boasting a staggering 4.2million subscribers. Another YouTube personality even made the trip all the way from Melbourne just to be part of the flight. So what was the flight like? Here's the lowdown on my experience with Global Airlines from Manchester Airport to New York JFK. Regarding check-in and boarding: On the night before the flight, we got an email from James Asquith himself, where he said he was "looking forward to seeing us". He helpfully told us which check-in desks we should head to and reminded us about the ESTA – useful advice, albeit a bit late for those who hadn't sorted one yet. We were also advised to 'charge up' our devices as we would need them to access the inflight entertainment system and informed that there was no wifi on board. I found the former more annoying; I enjoy watching a good film or two on a long-haul flight and appreciate being 'offline' for several hours. Not owning a tablet, I have no desire to squint at my phone screen to watch a movie. Another notable aspect: Global Airlines' website is basic, with little guidance on customer service. There was no help number, and no responses to any emails when we had a query about the booking. Most major airlines have the option to 'manage your booking' online, but this was not the case here. Upon arriving at check-in the next morning at Manchester Airport's Terminal 1, we saw banners displaying Global Airline's branding (with "operated by Hi Fly" in small print), one for each class: Global Traveller, Global Business, and Global First. A sparkly photo point, branded cupcakes, and a buzz among passengers created a lively atmosphere. I spotted two men with Airbus A380 key rings dangling off their bags. I chatted with two young men who had won their tickets in an Instagram competition, finding out only 48 hours before the flight's departure. After receiving my economy ticket, I proceeded through security like any other traveller. I must say, it was the smoothest security experience I've ever had, breezing through in less than five minutes thanks to the new scanners that don't require you to remove anything from your bags - a real boon for passengers. I can't say whether business and first class passengers were whisked away to a lounge, but I found myself left to my own devices in Manchester's soon-to-be-demolished Terminal 1. However, I did enjoy a splendid view of the Global Airlines A380 as I savoured my coffee at Starbucks, the massive aircraft dwarfing all others nearby. Having purchased my obligatory (at least for me) magazines and a 750ml bottle of Buxton from WH Smiths, gate 20D was announced and I made my way there, where a gentleman directed me downstairs. It quickly became apparent that the flight wouldn't be heavily populated. I later learned that there were only between 80-90 passengers on the plane, which has a capacity of around 500. It does make one wonder: why operate such a large aircraft if you can't even fill it? Asquith himself arrived, flanked by a group of people, but without any fanfare - you wouldn't know it was him unless you recognised his face - no grandstanding here. First class passengers were, naturally, called up first, partially filling the bus that would transport them to the aircraft. The rest of us were then ushered on, although when my boarding ticket was checked I was told it needed to be altered and received a premium ticket - although there was no mention of the word 'upgrade', simply that I had been issued the wrong ticket at check in. We sped across the apron to the plane, which bore the Global Airlines livery, its vast size truly becoming apparent. And it really was a beast of a plane - honestly massive. Even the ground staff seemed excited about it. We climbed the steps to the lower deck, and headed inside. We were led upstairs, passing through the first class cabin on the way, and then I settled into my seat in business. Take off and settling in: The flight was due to depart at 12.25pm, at 12.45pm we were taxiing to the runway, and after a smooth take off - watched by dozens of plane spotters - we were up in the air by 1pm, informed by the pilot that the flight would be six hours and 30 minutes. My business class cabin was barely a quarter full, unlike any other flight I've been on. The way it's configured is that there are four seats across - one at either window and two in the middle. Each has a side table, a screen directly in front of the seat and a foot rest which comes into use when you recline the seat into the flat position. The foot rest also has a handy storage section for your shoes or bag. There's a tray table that can be pulled out for dining, and plenty of storage for your books, phones and more beside the seat. My seat was adorned with a certificate for the maiden voyage, a menu, a bookmark with a message from Asquith, a blanket, a cushion and a vanity kit. This was a stylish zipped leather wallet containing socks, an eye mask, ear plugs and a dental kit, along with a pen. It was decent but not too dissimilar to a Turkish Airlines economy kit I recently obtained - which even had slippers. The seat was certainly comfortable and spacious; having the side table was a real plus. Yet it felt tired and dated; I noticed several scuffs and stains, and when I fully reclined my seat I could see what looked like tea or coffee stains on the plastic back of the seat. You could see where old stickers had been removed, and where new stickers were covering up old ones. China Southern patterns were still visible and it all felt a bit shabby. It's obviously not what Global Airline's had planned. Food and drink: My menu was the Global Traveller option, which presumably meant I was getting the economy meal while sitting in business, not unheard of if you're upgraded at the last minute but still a little bizarre. It stated that we would be presented with a selection of drinks including Laurent Perrier Champagne, fine wines, spirits and beers, soft drinks and juices, and snacks. I was anticipating a round of drinks before the meal, but none came. However, it was intriguing to see that a few passengers near the front were being served and it became clear throughout the flight that they were receiving the true business experience, while I and other passengers nearby were not. After a reasonable wait, lunch arrived: caprese salad to start, followed by a main course of either herbed chicken ballantine, pan fried sea bass or spiced white bean and aubergine cassolette, with a citrus tart to finish. I opted for the chicken and it was scrumptious, served with carrots, spring onion, and crushed potatoes with some gravy. The salad was delightful with a charming tiny bottle of dressing, while the tart was exceptional, refreshingly tangy and light. However, the bread roll was not served warm, as is customary on flights, making it rather chewy. There was also no salt and pepper, or wet wipe provided with the cutlery. We were offered a drink but there was no sign of the champagne, so I chose white wine. The meal was satisfactory, but it lacked refinement. I was told that during the Glasgow flight there was a delay in getting the food on board, resulting in long waits for passengers, although this was not the case on our flight. About an hour later, the crew came round to offer us a snack such as crisps, olives and sweets, along with a drink. This time I asked for champagne and I did receive it, along with some salted Kettle chips. Our menu also had an 'a la carte' section which included two types of afternoon tea, one for meat-eaters and one vegetarian. About 90 minutes before we were due to land the crew came round asking if we wanted anything - but didn't explicitly say 'would you like the afternoon tea', it was only by me pushing for more information that they said the afternoon tea was available. I feared a bout of turbulence would threaten its arrival, but it safely appeared, although the sandwiches were a mix from both the options and the scones were missing. It was delicious though and filled a hole - I was just glad I had the initiative to push for it. In flight entertainment: Inflight entertainment, particularly if you're not going to offer WIFI, is key on a long haul flight. Across most major airlines it's gone from strength to strength and often it's a chance to catch up on new releases you may have missed in the cinema. So to be told the screens wouldn't be working on board was a huge disappointment for me, particularly as I didn't have a tablet computer. I knew I wasn't going to bother watching anything but out of curiosity I scanned the QR code which connected me to the Global Times network. The option to view the flight route was available, albeit in a very basic manner: it didn't display departure time, arrival time, ground speed or any of the usual information you'd expect on a plane. It seemed like my friends and family on the ground had more information about my flight than I did up in the air. A few films were available for viewing, including Beetlejuice, Barbie and Twister, along with several others I hadn't heard of. There was a category labelled 'Europeen' - yes, spelled incorrectly, and only a handful of TV shows, including the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I opted to stick with my magazines and podcasts, often catching my blurred reflection in the redundant screen opposite me. The service: The aircraft was staffed by a Hi Fly crew, though I was told that some of them had undergone Global Airlines training and they all wore the uniform. All crew members were friendly, polite and carried out their duties professionally. At one point, we were given hot damp cloths (always a treat) and a selection of hand, foot and cuticle creams - I used the hand cream but due to cabin pressure, it wouldn't stop pouring out and I had to use a wet wipe to deal with the excessive greasiness. Still, it was a nice touch. However, there was an undeniable feeling that this wasn't a Global Airlines crew, which added to the sense of an unfinished product. Cabin crew usually take great pride in their airlines, but the crew here felt like they were merely playing a role. The other cabins: I had the opportunity to explore both the first class and economy cabins. The latter was pretty standard as you'd expect. Much like the business cabin, first class was spacious, with each seat in its own cubicle equipped with privacy screens. The Global Airlines touch was evident in the finer details: small leather handbags containing vanity kits, beige pyjama sets (which one Youtuber demonstrated has a zip that encloses the hood completely, almost like a morph suit), and slippers. I managed to get a glimpse of the first class menu, which boasted more options than a high-end restaurant. Lunch choices included caviar, antipasti, a cheese platter and a smoked salmon platter. An 'amuse bouche' course featured dishes such as tuna tartar, duck foie gras, and smoked duck breast. Interestingly, while economy's 'a la carte' offered a lighter snack option of afternoon tea, first class passengers were treated to a three-course feast. Considering this is a flight of under seven hours, after their lunch, passengers in first could then dine on: beetroot salad, tomato and mozzarella or balik salmon; followed by: blackened miso cod, beef tender rib, chicken ballantine or pan fried butternut squash; and finished with 'pina colada' and 'strawberry gem' desserts or a chocolate and avocado mousse. The menu was certainly ambitious and impressive. However, I suspect it's the sort of grub you'd prefer to enjoy in a brand new first class seat, not one that's over a decade old. How much did the flights cost? We shelled out £697.28 for return flights from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, booked a week before take-off. This included 10kg hand luggage and 23kg hold luggage. However, in the weeks leading up to departure, they announced several flash sales, with return economy tickets starting from £380 and return business tickets from £1999. A safe landing, but an uncertain future: Catching glimpses of the iconic Manhattan skyline, we landed smoothly at JFK, our bags ready to collect promptly after passing through passport control. The A380, owned by Global Airlines, managed to get off the ground and safely deliver its passengers to their destination. Judging by the buzz surrounding the A380, perhaps Asquith is onto something. There was a touch of magic in the air, the sense that this could be the start of something truly exciting. However, the product I experienced felt unfinished. It somewhat resembled a stunt, akin to how people rent grounded private jets just to snap photos for their social media, creating an illusion. This felt like the A380 had been rented too, slapped with some logos and sent off on potentially a one-off service. Global Airlines has a mountain to climb in order to establish a strong brand identity, revamp its A380 (let alone expand its fleet), and crucially, it needs to become an official airline. Until then, trusted brands such as Aer Lingus, Virgin and British Airways seem much more attractive for transatlantic routes from Manchester. If Asquith manages to pull this off, Global Airlines will mark a new chapter in the history of aviation. But that's a very big, Superjumbo jet-sized if.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What is Global Airlines? All you need to know about new transatlantic airline before maiden flight to New York
At 11am on Thursday 14 May, a new British airline is due to make its maiden flight. A giant Airbus A380 plane in the colours of Global Airlines will lift off from Glasgow airport in Scotland, destination New York JFK. The founder has pledged to 'take passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, reinvigorating the onboard experience with elevated service'. But plans for a five-cabin aircraft, including a new 'gamer class', have been dropped. The promised regular scheduled links across the Atlantic are very much on hold. After a transatlantic round trip from Glasgow and a second this month from Manchester, no other flights are currently on offer. So what is the story behind Global Airlines – and what are the chances of success? These are the key questions and answers. The key word is 'big'. Global Airlines will be using the double-deck A380 – the world's largest passenger plane – across the North Atlantic between the UK and US. The founder, James Asquith, 36, promises a new era of flying, saying: 'People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better.' He says he is 'constantly bewildered and disappointed by the poor experiences he has encountered aboard hundreds of commercial flights". Passengers on his airline will enjoy 'the best experience in the sky' and get 'fast relief from the aches and pains associated with commercial air travel'. In 2013, Mr Asquith became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, aged 24. He spent eight years working in investment banking, and founded the Holiday Swap website – which is funding the Global Airlines project along with private investors. Global Airlines owns two European-built Airbus A380s. The one that is serviceable is 12 years old, with one previous operator, China Southern. The other, a 16-year-old SuperJumbo formerly flown by Singapore Airlines, is still stored at Lourdes in southwest France. The launch aircraft is operated by the Maltese subsidiary of a Portuguese carrier, Hi Fly, and has the registration 9H-GLOBL. The plane has the same three-class seating configuration as it did when China Southern flew it between Guangzhou and Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Sydney. In its 'LOPA' (layout of passenger accommodation). Global Airlines is more economy-heavy than British Airways, and can therefore accommodate more passengers. I have compared Global Airlines with the BA A380 LOPA: First: 8 (14 on BA) Business: 70 (97 on BA) Premium economy: nil (55 on BA) Economy ('Global Traveller'): 428 (303 on BA). Total: 506 (469 on BA) 'Gamer class', which was to be located and priced between business and premium economy, does not feature on the Global Airlines aircraft. As with British Airways, some economy passengers are able to travel on the upper deck; 76 cheap seats are up top, with 352 on the main (lower) deck. I paid the full economy fare of £778 return, but already prices have been halved to £380 try to fill the first departures. You can get this fare through with the code GLOBAL380 or in business class for £1,999 return with the code GLOBAL1999. That also applies for the second round-trip, from Manchester to New York and back (21-25 May). James Asquith has been compared with Richard Branson. And The Global Airlines debut has some similarities to the bearded entrepreneur's launch of a single Boeing 747 from Newark to in June 1984: the founder is a rich and successful young man in his mid-30s vowing to improve the passenger experience on transatlantic flights using the largest available secondhand plane. But there are some important differences. Virgin Atlantic flights were for sale direct from the airline by phone, through travel agents and even at Virgin Records stores (they were big in the 20th century). From day one, Virgin Atlantic had a scheduled operation between London Gatwick and New York Newark. You could stay in the US for a day or a month, or simply fly one way. Global Airlines has only four transatlantic flights planned. These are fixed-duration charters bookable through a Slough-based travel agent called Travelopedia. The flights are operated by the Maltese subsidiary of a Portuguese airline, Hi Fly. The new carrier has promised scheduled flights from London Gatwick to the US, but does not have the necessary permits or slots. The A380 is a passenger favourite. Many people prefer it because of the sense of space. The main deck economy cabin is a couple of feet wider than the Boeing 777 – which makes a lot of difference with a 10-abreast configuration. The double-deck jet was devised to make the most of limited slots (particularly at London Heathrow) and to offer airlines lower costs for 'hub and spoke' operations. It is used assiduously for this latter purpose by Emirates – which has almost half of the total production run of 251 aircraft. (For comparison, the Boeing 747 Jumbo sold over six times more during its much longer production run.) Global Airlines plans to use the aircraft on the London-New York run, the world's most lucrative intercontinental air route. The only time it has ever been served by an A380 was briefly before Covid when Norwegian chartered one from Hi Fly to cover for unserviceable Boeing 787s. (That aircraft was actually the non-flying A380 now owned by Global Airlines.) The evidence is that high-spending business passengers value frequency over aircraft type. On the day of the Global Airlines launch, British Airways – just one of five airlines competing from London to New York JFK – has eight departures from Heathrow plus one from Gatwick. BA has never flown its A380 on the route. The mainstream aviation community is sceptical about the prospects of success for Global Airlines. The start-up is seeking to fill a very large aircraft – with high costs of fuel, crew and maintenance – in a crowded market where existing 'legacy' carriers have strong loyalty programmes and networks offering connections. After flying some passengers from Barcelona to Berlin and onwards to London Gatwick, Mr Asquith posted on social media about what he called 'lots of unfounded, baseless and negative speculative commentary written by people who I think should feel ashamed'. He said: 'Lots of colleagues and partners are working their asses off, and when their family and friends read the nasty and offensive comments from anonymous keyboard warriors claiming that our company was 'made up' or a scam at the start, it cuts deep. We have proven over and over again that this is not true. 'Like anyone, we of course make mistakes. Nothing is perfect in any new venture, but even more so in aviation. We do not always have all the answers and we cannot always explain everything as it happens don't think anyone will ever fully appreciate just how complex and fast-moving this has all been over the last two years. 'Global started out as a vision; an ambition to make a change. It quickly became a reality due to huge perseverance and effort from our brilliant home team and many partners along the way. We wanted to create some competition, create jobs and a better product backed by passion. 'Everyone seems to love our aircraft, and couldn't be happier. We are just a team of people trying so hard to deliver a dream that will ultimately be hugely positive.' Global Airlines is not saying, but it is fair to say tens of millions of pounds have been invested in the enterprise so far. James Asquith told The Independent: 'I've sold and risked everything to be in the position I'm at. I'm putting everything on the line.'
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Business Standard
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Direct flights between India and China a possibility now after long halt
But this time, Chinese carriers are unlikely to dominate the market Surajeet Das Gupta New Delhi Listen to This Article It has always been a highly restrictive airlines market. But with the advent of the Covid pandemic in early 2020, direct flights between China and India were suspended from both sides and have remained so since then. The frequency of flights between India and China, according to global aviation data company OAG, peaked at 2,588 flights in 2019, dominated by two airlines — China Southern and China Eastern — which controlled over 80 per cent share of the overall market. But it fell dramatically after the pandemic and then the border skirmishes, dropping to just 6 frequencies in the whole
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New British airline opens first transatlantic flight sale – here's how much tickets cost
Global Airlines, the British start-up airline planning a transatlantic network, has started selling tickets for its first flight. Seats have gone on sale one month before planned inaugural flight from Glasgow to New York. An Airbus A380 is scheduled to depart from the Scottish city at 11am on 15 May. The world's biggest passenger plane, fitted with more than 500 seats, is due to arrive at JFK airport seven hours later. The aircraft will remain on the ground in New York for four days, returning to Scotland on 19 May. The next venture leaves Manchester two days later, on 21 May, for another four-day trip to New York. The aircraft is a 12-year-old former China Southern jet. Although it is owned by Global Airlines, it will be operated by Hi Fly Malta, a subsidiary of the Portuguese aviation firm Hi Fly. Tickets for what is a charter flight are being sold through a Slough-based 'travel solutions company', Travelopedia. The configuration is the same as the China Southern original: 428 economy seats, 70 business and eight first class. A 'Global Traveller' (economy class) return ticket is selling for £778. Business class is £3,700, while first costs £7,127. At 9am on Tuesday, the online seat map shows two of the eight first class seats filled. Unlike the originally envisaged scheduled link between London Gatwick and JFK, the maiden flight is one of a pair of one-off charters rather than regular scheduled flights. Ahead of the launch, founder and chief executive James Asquith posted on Instagram: 'There is nothing better than seeing our first aircraft in the sky where it belongs. 'Seeing 9H-GLOBL flying reminds me of the monumental efforts of so many people in the last two years that have led us to this moment. I want to say a huge thank you to every single person who has played their part in this journey.' In May 2024, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Mr Asquith's wealth at £182m. The 36-year-old airline founder told The Independent before the first tickets went on sale: 'I'm feeling good. It's been a long road to get here. It's those crazy kind of last couple of days and weeks looking to enter into service and it has certainly not been easy. 'We knew it would be massively challenging. But we persevered and here we are.' Many aviation industry insiders have questioned the prospects of a start-up airline profitably filling seats on the world's biggest passenger plane across the Atlantic – especially with figures showing a sharp downturn in travel to the US from the UK and the rest of Europe since Donald Trump began his second term as president. Normally nonstop air fares between the UK and US soar towards £1,000 return during the summer peak. But The Independent has found Manchester-New York flights on Aer Lingus on sale for just £368 return in July. At present no other airline flies from Glasgow to New York. But from Edinburgh airport, 42 miles away, three airlines compete between the Scottish capital and America's biggest city: JetBlue, United and Virgin Atlantic. On the same dates as Global Airlines, United is selling tickets for £413 return – though this does not include checked baggage. That puts the premium from Scotland to New York for Global Airlines as 88 per cent.
Bloomberg
15-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China Southern Halts Sale of Boeing Jets on US New-Plane Freeze
China Southern Airlines Co. suspended the sale of 10 used Boeing Co. 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, after Beijing's escalating trade war with the US put supply of aircraft to the mainland at risk. The airline, one of the country's Big Three state-owned carriers, had planned to replace the US-made widebodies with larger, newer planes better suited to China Southern's long-haul network. That approach was upended by the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and the retaliatory measures put in place by Beijing over this past weekend.
