It has been around six months since I’ve last written about Global Airlines, the unusual ”airline startup” that plans to operate used Airbus A380s. So I think it’s time to take an updated look at this airline, especially since OMAAT readers constantly ask if I’ve seen the latest ”announcements” from the company.
Continue reading: Will All-A380 Operator Global Airlines Ever Launch Operations?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
In addition to regulatory, there's also the fact that LHR is heavily slot controlled. Have they said if they've secured them or who they're buying them from?
Don't you know it will lose hundreds if not thousands on each ticket sale but will make it for it by having 98%+ load factors?
"The guy behind this company is James Asquith, and his previous business success is that he is the founder of Holiday Swap, a vacation rental platform. As a matter of fact, a majority of Global Airlines shares are owned by Holiday Swap. The company claims to have a $400 million valuation, to have over a million users, and to have the goal of having five million users in 2024.
As mentioned above, the guy behind the airline is James Asquith, and his previous business success is that he is the founder of Holiday Swap, a vacation rental platform. As a matter of fact, a majority of Global Airlines shares are (or at least were) owned by Holiday Swap. The company has claimed to have a $400 million valuation, to have over a million users, and to have the goal of having five million users in 2024."
I feel like you didn't mean to have these two paragraphs back to back.
Here's hoping that Mr. Asquith gets Instagram posting out of his system, as he will be unable to post there when he's in prison.
Just sayin'.
Their painted A380 livery reminds me of United + Continetal merger for some reason...
Bet the 777X delivery would start before the Global Airlines' inaugural flight.
Short Answer: No.
Long Answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
LH will have a homogenous J cabin across its entire fleet before Global's first flight.
The name reminds me of the fake airlines made up for movies. Like Atlantic International Airlines from Passenger 57.
From Instagram, James Asquith and his wife seem to spend most their time flying between Orlando, London and Dubai in first class and/or private jets. In Orlando, they're at Disney at least once per quarter.
I guess he has enough time to fly around having fun and not work on his "airline". Though I really wonder where all the money comes from and how clean it is.
I love this line: "Our focus has always been on all our passengers." That must have been a very easy focus to maintain, given that the total number of their passengers has been zero.
I'm not sure why you're giving them even a whiff of benefit of the doubt. The only explanation that makes sense is that they are trying to scam potential investors out of their money. Maybe they'll come up with a logo like Golden Turkey, because anyone who invests with them is a turkey who lays their golden eggs.
Yes it is possible they should focus on Asian destinations also not to depend on LHRJFK load alone
He can start jfk JNB NBO JNB JFK
It is a profit making and lucrative
Route which no airline has ventured
Also glad to James enjoyed a luxury wedding in Loch Lomond. Wonder who paid for that. I highly doubt this will ever launch. Also some very naive social media out there promoting it while attending the same wedding. Be careful.
At an airline where I used to work, when Baltia was still "around" every time they put out a press release or announcement, it was sent out within HDQ as breaking industry news so we could all share in a laugh.
The only thing that will give them any credibility is to do a mass order of the imminent into service supersonic Boom and Aerion next generation passenger jets with screens instead of windows and cockpits. Trying to work out which is more likely to launch between them .
They are going to fly from Southampton Airport instead of London, it is a location in keeping with the Golden Age of travel as a place that evokes the glamorous liners of yesteryear, decidedly more suited for such an esteemed airline.
The sweatshirts in the company shop would be pretty sweet, like is that a real company or a joke company, if only I had any confidence that they would actually ship.
Shop is sold out of all size hoodies in blue and only has XL and L in Red. If they can't keep the single item the sell, a sweatshirt which is pretty easy to source, in stock it seems unlikely they're going to be able to manage the logistics of running a passenger airline.
James' wife Robyn is leading the flight attendant pillar of the airline since she used to be one with Emirates. I see far less posts from James these days on Insta - earlier he used to post drinking of glass fulls of champagne every day. Assuming he is not doing that any more - he must be seriously working on starting this airline up! I wish him the best.
To me it looks like optics and a very costly extravagant vanity project. He hasn’t been able to commit to any dates regarding launch, refitting cabin, recruitment open days. Nor can he give specifics on operations, approvals etc. The only aspect that’s impressive is how many of his friends, followers, and other ‘influencers’ buy into it.
I have the blue in large will sell to you for a good price. Only worn once over a mostly clean tshirt.
The only thing missing from this airline is some sort of crypto play. "We will put our miles on the blockchain"
They will eventually fly, I have no doubt about that. The question is: For how long? The real expenses come when you operate an airline, not by preparing one. Unless he operates as a charter, this will get costly in a hurry, especially if flying to Europe, which is probably not a smart idea as EC261/UK261 mandates lots of compensation for irrops.
In prison for what? Do you operate with any knowledge about a scam that's going on?
He should avoid the UK and European market. Passenger rights alone have to potential to bankrupt an airline.
HomeAway and Global are both grifting scams where James is living his jetset life on the investors dime as a business expense. Once the HomeAway investment tap stopped funding his lifestyle, he started on this airline.
James is always making a point on his social media on how his fancy stay in a five star resort is actually also for work purposes because he took some work calls, precisely to create plausible deniability in case he's audited
Let me add few points:
1. In order to operate their own A380 on Wet lease basis, and that is what is likely going to happen, they don't need an AOC, as the aircraft remains in Operational control (see definition) of the Lessor. E.g. they rent their owned A380 to HiFly and then wet lease it back along with crew/maint/insurance (ACMI). Not cheap at the end, but fast and easy to get started. Not sure if they still need route permits and/or Passenger transport licence from UK CAA, though
2. Even easier option. They rent out their A380 to hHi Fly or whoever wants to operate it for them, and Charter it for Global "airlines" marketed flights. Kinda travel agency "mode" with own aircraft - that concept has worked before
This whole vanity project stinks.It will never work.There is more chance of Aeroflot flying daily to New York.
He and his wife has been in Disneyland FL for two weeks now. Lol enjoying their jetset lifestyle!
I have followed him on Instagram for several years. One thing I have never understood is he owns a “company” that shares homes. Why is he always staying in hotels? Why is he not staying in a home on his platform and promoting it?