Global Airlines has just put its first flights on sale. I’m so confused… sometimes reality is crazier than fiction.
Global Airlines plans May 2025 launch, or something
I’ve written extensively about Global Airlines, an “airline startup” that plans to fly Airbus A380s. Global Airlines has for a long time claimed that its inaugural flight would be around the corner, despite little progress when it comes to getting the regulatory approval needed to operate flights (instead, months and months have been spent repainting the company’s A380).
A few weeks ago, Global Airlines teased that it would soon put tickets on sale, encouraging travelers to “secure [their] place in aviation history.” Well, I’ll be darned, tickets are now on sale. The two inaugural itineraries will look as follows (notice the daytime flights in both directions):
- Global Airlines will operate a Glasgow (GLA) to New York (JFK) itinerary, departing on May 15 and returning on May 19
- Global Airlines will operate a Manchester (MAN) to New York (JFK) itinerary, departing on May 21 and returning on May 25
I’m not sure if they’re just parking the A380 at JFK for four days at a time, or what’s going on there…
It’s worth noting that Global Airlines isn’t operating these flights under its own air operator certificate, but instead, they’re being operated by Portuguese charter company Hi Fly. So presumably it’ll be Hi Fly pilots and flight attendants operating these flights… which makes you wonder what exactly Global Airlines has been doing flight attendant recruiting for. Hi Fly actually has experience with the A380, as the company briefly operated the world’s first secondhand A380.
Global Airlines’ website is now live for reservations for these trips.
So, how much are tickets? It’s only possible to book roundtrip tickets with a European origin. Looking at the Glasgow to New York trip, all-in fares are as follows:
- First class fares are £6,829.35 (~$8,996)
- Business class fares are £3,700.41 (~$4,875)
- Economy class fares are £778.62 (~$1,026)
What on earth is even going on here?!
I’ve long said that Global Airlines is an unserious company, and I still believe that. Is the A380 that the company acquired airworthy? Of course. Is Hi Fly an expert in operating flights, and capable of operating Global Airlines’ A380? Of course.
Do I think that Global Airlines will ever operate regularly scheduled flights under its own air operator certificate? If you ask me, it’s highly unlikely, because nothing about this company adds up, and the people behind it are pretty questionable, for reasons I’ve outlined here.
So, what’s going on with these two roundtrip inaugural flights from Glasgow and Manchester to New York? I… really have absolutely no clue what’s going on anymore.
For one, what’s the point of these flights, exactly? Are they trying to figure out how big the market is for four-day drips between Glasgow and New York with zero flexibility over a random week in May? Or is this basically a trip designed specifically for aviation geeks, who are willing to position to Europe?
And of course the costs here are way higher than the other airlines in the market that you could fly. Over $1,000 in economy, and $9,000 in first class?! Are people really going to spring for that?
Look, I’m so tempted to book this flight. The airline has been hyping so much how amazing the inflight experience will be, and I just can’t help but picture myself sitting in a broken former China Southern seat, eating a boxed sandwich. And to drop $5-8K on that experience, if it even happens?!
Honestly, this all just keeps getting stranger, and I can’t wait to see how the coming weeks play out. To me, the biggest mystery with Global Airlines continues to be what the motive is for what’s going on here. If the people behind the company were serious about starting an airline, this isn’t how you’d go about it. Meanwhile I don’t see any obvious grift here, so it’s not like they’re fundraising super aggressively. It’s all very strange.
Bottom line
Global Airlines claims that it will launch in May 2025, with tickets now being on sale. The company will for some reason launch two roundtrip itineraries to New York, each with a four day layover, out of Glasgow and Manchester. Fares aren’t cheap, and start at over $1,000 in economy, and $9,000 in first class.
These will be operated in partnership with Hi Fly, so this doesn’t actually get the airline any closer to launching scheduled operations under its own air operator certificate.
What a world, what a world…
What do you make of this Global Airlines ticket sale situation?
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