Global Airlines is the “airline startup” that has acquired Airbus A380s, and plans to use them to operate long haul flights with a revolutionary passenger experience. Or at least that’s the claim — anyone who does even the slightest bit of research will probably become pretty skeptical of the claims of the people behind the company.
The airline was supposed to launch flights in the spring of 2024, flying between the United Kingdom and United States. Then in early 2024, the airline pushed back the timeline to late 2024. Now there’s an additional update, as the timeline has been pushed back yet again, to 2025.
In this post:
Global Airlines pushes back launch to 2025
Global Airlines has now revealed that it plans to launch flights next year, so at some point in 2025. There are no additional details beyond that, but it’s clear that the timeline just keeps getting delayed.
Currently Global Airlines has one “active” Airbus A380, with the registration code 9H-GLOBL. This is an 11-year-old superjumbo that used to fly for China Southern, until it was retired at the start of the pandemic.
To Global Airlines’ credit, at least this aircraft has actually flown — on April 30 and May 1 it flew from Mojave (MHV) to Montreal (YMX) to Prestwick (PIK). That journey had to be done with the gear down, so the plane flew at an altitude of at most 27,000 feet.
Global Airlines states that the A380 is being prepared for its entry into service, and that more maintenance and cabin work will be done. It’s kind of funny how for the time being, the China Southern livery is being used with Global Airlines’ name. Meanwhile, I can’t help but wonder about the duties of the company’s current “flight attendants.”
I’m curious how long this all goes on for
Look, I’d love to see an innovative new airline launched, but Global Airlines just isn’t it, in my opinion. I wish I could just look away from Global Airlines and not pay any attention, but I can’t, as it’s just too entertaining, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I think this will make a great Netflix documentary one day, so if anyone works in entertainment…
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.
My gosh, that’s an absolutely massive business, right? This guy must be a business genius! Maybe he is, but it’s interesting how the Holiday Swap website has an average of somewhere around 10,000 to 15,000 page views per month, and only has 70 reviews on TrustPilot, most of which are five stars and from people who have left a single review.
As a point of comparison, Home Exchange claims to have 150,000 users, and gets somewhere around 1.5 million to 1.7 million page views per month, and has over 9,000 reviews on TrustPilot. I’ll let y’all draw your own conclusions about what’s going on here, but something doesn’t add up.
As far as Global Airlines actually launching operations goes, I’d have a little more faith in the concept if the company actually made progress toward launching in a way you’d expect from a serious airline.
To my knowledge, Global Airlines hasn’t made any regulatory filings to actually get certified to launch flights, and that’s quite a process. Instead, the airline seems to be finding every way possible to get attention and distract people with insignificant milestones, ranging from a partnership with Laurent Perrier, to a partnership with American Express. The company has put out as much fluff as possible, while doing very little that gets the company closer to launching flights.
Personally I don’t think Global Airlines will ever operate a regularly scheduled commercial flight, and I simply don’t believe the concept is serious. If I end up being wrong, I’ll own up to it and apologize.
What I can’t fully make sense of is what the motives are of the people behind the airline. What’s the actual end goal? Because if the goal is to launch operations, the company is doing a pretty lousy job…
Bottom line
Global Airlines was supposed to launch operations in the spring of 2024, but that timeline keeps getting pushed back. The airline now plans to launch operations at some point in 2025, though we don’t have any details beyond that.
Global Airlines keeps making random announcements intended to make it sound like progress is being made. However, when it comes to cabin interiors, regulatory approval, etc., the airline is pretty quiet…
When do you think Global Airlines will actually launch? Or rather, do you think Global Airlines will ever launch?
Under a 9H Malta Reg, they will t get traffic rights from the UK to the US.
They had eyed a UK carrier to use the AOC from what I heard, but that airline was only to please when the signed up to Hi-Fly.
Their IG is insufferable. Every few days there’s a two-penny story about ferry flight to Prestwick, new partnership, part of their aircraft, flight attendants, etc. All superficial stuff and nothing about approvals and operations. Another video uploaded today, a day after they announced their second delayed start date. It makes their constant spamming even more tacky and ridiculous.
Can’t help thinking it’s just one big vanity project to boost Asquith’s ego and social media presence....
Their IG is insufferable. Every few days there’s a two-penny story about ferry flight to Prestwick, new partnership, part of their aircraft, flight attendants, etc. All superficial stuff and nothing about approvals and operations. Another video uploaded today, a day after they announced their second delayed start date. It makes their constant spamming even more tacky and ridiculous.
Can’t help thinking it’s just one big vanity project to boost Asquith’s ego and social media presence. Influencers, Dubai folks, and bots seem to love it too giving him reason to keep posting.
Obviously its a complete fraud. Maybe they will start a music festival and call Its Global Fire Fest in the Sky! Definitely a great True Crime documentary in the making!
Well he just spend all the money on a plush wedding in Scotland, so there is where the money goes. Also a worrying number of influencers, who work in the industry backing him, and attending the wedding, while they run this very "dodgy" airline. The first plane delivered is good, but looks noting like the PR shots
They're obviously about to join a new "Global Alliance" with Global Ghana Airlines and Avatar Airlines, duh.
I did a reverse image search on the picture of the flight attendants, and it comes back to China Southern Airlines.
Anyone remember Baltia Airways??? Sound familiar?
every OG reader of this site sure does!
Glolololololobal
We don't really need more airlines on the US or the UK, there should be a way for regulators or authorities to avoid the failure of start-up transport companies or at least stop this companies from heading straight to failure, saving consumers the pain.
Some people really don't learn, even start-up companies like Breeze are struggling for survival, what makes them think they're special and will succeed?
It wouldn't surprise me if they change the name to "truth social airlines" to have a better chance of staying out of jail.
But if they do go to jail maybe we'll have the satisfaction of seeing them share a cell with diaper donnie vonshitzinpantz.
Never underestimate the number of stupid people with lots of money. Just because someone created an app and grifted the sale of that app to someone even dumber doesn't make the seller of the app any wiser. That's the kind of person they are looking for. Someone that they can wine and dine (and provide some other activities) and eventually obtain money from.
We listened! More Choice! We're making flying Simpler!
No complicated schedules
Enjoy the onboard sauna, hot tub and plunge pool
Our flight attendants are here primarily for your selfies
Sextuple Bilt points on all ticket purchases
Hilarious!
That A380 is going to be registered G-R1FT...
LOVE IT !
@Ben: I sooooo enjoy your posts about Global Airlines. Say what you want but they are entertaining:-)
I love reading and watching the story unfold, it looks like they've just appointed Orrick and I think crowdfunding will be next, they certainly getting the PR and Buzz sorted but not the regulatory bits and slots etc, they have a long way to climb before the A380 climbs out of any airport!
I really want to know who in their right mind would give even a dollar to these people as an investment. What is funding the charade up to this point? I'm just an average joe, so I really have no concept of how these types of business "deals" work. Someone has to be losing money right? What am I missing?
You are not missing anything, people like this like to come up with sexy "deals" to entice gullible investors. Typically these are people that have net worth of 500k-1mil to invest (which is not enough for the amount of risk they are taking on). These people should just be buying index/mutual funds but they get convinced that the stock market always goes down (it doesnt) and that they need to be investing in a deal...
You are not missing anything, people like this like to come up with sexy "deals" to entice gullible investors. Typically these are people that have net worth of 500k-1mil to invest (which is not enough for the amount of risk they are taking on). These people should just be buying index/mutual funds but they get convinced that the stock market always goes down (it doesnt) and that they need to be investing in a deal with a famous influencer. Unfortunately it works and it happens in every industry. People want to feel cool and there is nothing cool about buying $SPY and making money, but lighting money on fire by buying into a private equity deal with an influencer now that is cool!
To me it’s pretty obvious: Global Airlines actually is the undisclosed launch customer of the Boom Overture, which will have its first commercial flight in February 2025! Thus, the launch hat to be postponed.
The A380 is just a distraction.
(Next time you’re at GSO, look out for the MSN001 and MSN002 Boom Overtures in Global Airlines livery.)
Hahahahhaha that gave me a good laugh
Ventures like these are simply a pump and dump scheme to sell inflated shares based on marketing material, then they exit while chumps are holding the bag
KLAUS_S if you see this message, please take a look at the comments on this article that we were discussing: https://onemileatatime.com/news/southwest-737-dangerous-go-around-hawaii/#comment-5123328
Hi Johnson,
Thanks for the hint. I did answer on the original thread (well, I accidentally didnt reply but just added a new comment. At least you don’t have to scroll down).
Launching an airline with the world's largest commercial aircraft on one of the world's most competitive aviation routes with 11-year-old aircraft sure is an interesting business model.
Can't wait to see who goes to jail first with this "airline."
Asquith is like the Elizabeth Holmes of airline CEOs.
This has all the makings of the next FYRE Festival. Shoddy business planning, amateur branding, you name it. Their Wikipedia page reads like it was written by James Asquith himself.
Waiting for the eventual fraud charges
$1 bet: Who will fly first? Boom Overture or Global Airlines?
Global airlines maiden flight will be operated by a Boom Ouverture jet. That’s the whole reason why the launch is delayed.
KLAUS_S remember me? You should really see how ridiculous it is ( ya know what you wrote about the giraffes) ... See here for my comments on that (if you have any more explanations, please do express them). https://onemileatatime.com/news/southwest-737-dangerous-go-around-hawaii/#comment-5123328