Global Airlines: A New Direction for the A380

Global Airlines, a UK-based startup founded by entrepreneur James Asquith, had ambitious plans to revolutionize air travel by offering scheduled flights on an A380 super jumbo. However, recent developments suggest that the company may be taking a different direction.

Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that a Saudi-backed investment group is looking to become a major investor in Global Airlines. The group’s plan is to transform the airline into an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance & Insurance) leasing operation.

If this investment goes through, Global Airlines will become the world’s first dedicated A380 wet-leasing company. This move is in response to a growing demand for wide-body aircraft on short to medium-term contracts for high-density routes, particularly during events like the Hajj pilgrimage.

As part of the investment, Global Airlines may also acquire three more Airbus A380s. Currently, the airline only has one A380, a former China Southern aircraft registered as 9H-GLOBL.

Kingdom Holdings, the investment company in question, is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is headed by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, a member of the Saudi royal family. Kingdom Holdings is already a stakeholder in Saudi low-cost airline, Flynas.

Although Global Airlines recently operated a pair of flights from Glasgow and Manchester to New York, these flights were actually operated by Hi-Fly Malta. This is because Global Airlines does not yet have an Air Operators Certificate (AOC). These flights received mixed reviews, with many criticizing the airline for over-promising and under-delivering.

As of now, Global Airlines has no plans to begin scheduled services and there is no timeline for when it may be granted a UK AOC. This makes the ACMI model a sensible option for Mr.Asquith to consider, especially with the backing of Kingdom Holdings, which would give the airline access to lucrative markets in the Middle East and Africa.