Global Airlines to Launch A380 Flights from Manchester to JFK

Global Airlines is set to make history with its first transatlantic flight from Manchester to New York’s JFK airport on May 15. The flight will be operated by Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly, which recently ferried the A380 superjumbo to Portugal for maintenance in January.

Excitement is building in the aviation world, with AirNav Systems and FlightRadar24 tracking sites noting the beginning of a new chapter in transatlantic travel. The A380, registered as 9H-GLOBL, was originally owned by China Southern Airlines before Global took full ownership in February 2024. The aircraft was previously withdrawn from use and stored at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California.

Global Airlines Founder James Asquith recently shared a sneak peek of the A380’s interior on LinkedIn, showcasing the standout feature – the Global “Sky Pub”. Asquith explained that due to the lengthy certification process for major modifications on aircraft, the social spaces and bars will be further developed as more aircraft are added to the fleet.

Initially, return ticket prices for the A380 flight were set at £778 for economy, £3,700 for business, and £7,127 for first class. However, Asquith announced on LinkedIn that economy tickets will now be available for just £380 return. The flight is scheduled to depart Glasgow Airport at 11am, with live coverage available on YouTube channel Plane Sailing