US EditionA startup airline with an Airbus A380 is making its first official flight across the Atlantic
- Global Airlines, a British startup founded by James Asquith in 2021, operated its maiden passenger flight on May 15, 2025, from Glasgow to New York aboard an Airbus A380.
- The flight resulted from Global Airlines' plans to enter the transatlantic market despite lacking permits for regular service, leading it to partner with Hi Fly Malta for charter operations.
- The aircraft, registered as 9H-GLOBL and previously owned by China Southern Airlines, carried about 170 passengers, one-third of its capacity, and offered amenities like an onboard sky pub at 43,000 feet.
- Economy return fares were discounted to about £380, while business and first-class tickets cost approximately $2,660 and $3,990 respectively, with Glasgow Airport expressing support for the inaugural flight.
- Although Global Airlines has proved it can operate passenger flights, critics question its business case and the timeline for establishing regular transatlantic services under its own certificate.
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A startup airline with an Airbus A380 is making its first official flight across the Atlantic
Global Airlines' A380 took off from Glasgow on Thursday morning.Jörg Carstensen/picture alliance via Getty ImagesThe first official flight for Global Airlines' Airbus A380 took off on Thursday.James Asquith's startup has attracted many critics who doubted whether it would ever take to the skies.Global has to contend with a competitive market and develop a more refined offering.It's taken several years, but Global Airlines finally took to the ski…
New British Carrier Global Airlines Launches First Glasgow-New York Flight
Glasgow - On May 15, 2025, Global Airlines, a new British startup carrier, marked a significant milestone by launching its inaugural passenger flight from Glasgow Airport in Scotland to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The flight, operated on an Airbus A380—the world’s largest passenger aircraft- departed Glasgow at 11:33 local time, carrying approximately 170 passengers on a journey that aimed to redefine transatlantic tr…
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