Global Airlines: A New Player in the Transatlantic Market

A new airline has taken the aviation world by storm with its maiden flight from Glasgow to New York on May 15th. Global Airlines, founded by James Asquith, has been making headlines with its ambitious plans to revolutionize commercial flying. But with only two A380 planes in its fleet and no air operating certificate or operating license, is Global Airlines truly ready to take on the transatlantic market?

The Vision and Challenges

Asquith, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and former Sunday Times 40 under 40 lister, had a vision to create a luxury carrier with a fleet of A380s flying to popular destinations in the US. His idea was to offer a premium experience to all passengers, even those in economy class, with services like Laurent-Perrier champagne and Rova caviar. However, launching an airline is no easy feat, and Global Airlines has faced several challenges along the way.

First, the airline does not have an air operating certificate or operating license from the UK’s aviation authority, the CAA. This means that their maiden flight was operated by Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly. Additionally, the airline’s first flight was a one-off “A380 experience flight” instead of the regular scheduled service from Gatwick that was initially planned.

The Inaugural Flight Experience

On May 15th, flight HFM380 took off from Glasgow airport with 95 passengers and 27 crew members on board. The flight, operated by Hi Fly, was a mix of aviation bloggers, journalists, and regular passengers who were all excited to be a part of this momentous occasion. The aircraft, with its snazzy blue and red livery and a globe on its tailfin, was a sight to behold.

The onboard experience, however, was not as revolutionary as Asquith had promised. The A380 plane, formerly owned by China Southern Airlines, had the same configuration and amenities as before. The economy seats were comfortable, but the inflight entertainment system was not working, and passengers had to stream content on their personal devices. Business class passengers were given branded pyjamas and amenities, but some reported issues with faulty armrests.

The Challenges Ahead

Global Airlines has faced criticism from aviation commentators, who have labeled it as a “paper airline.” The airline has also faced challenges with filling up its A380 planes and pricing its fares competitively. Despite these issues, Asquith remains optimistic and says that Global Airlines is just getting started. The airline plans to acquire more planes and expand its route network, but it remains to be seen if they can achieve their goal of becoming a large scheduled airline.

Competition and Future Plans

Global Airlines is not the first airline to attempt transatlantic services, and several others have failed in the past. However, Asquith believes that competition is necessary for innovation and improvement in the industry. He also hinted at future plans