Global Airlines, the UK start-up that wants to redefine travel and bring back the golden age, carried out its first revenue flight last week and “invited” influencers from across the globe to buy tickets for the flight and review it. Now, the reviews are coming in and Global Airlines may be wishing they hadn’t bothered.
One of the key selling points of the idea of Global Airlines is that it will offer a top quality premium product on an Airbus A380. It put its flight from Glasgow to New York on sale some time ago offering an economy, business and first class cabin at prices ranging from several hundred pounds to several thousand pounds. Despite the A380 bing configured to seat 506 passengers, only around 90 passengers booked.
Among those who were ‘invited’ to buy tickets were travel vloggers Josh Cahill and Noel Phillips along with baggage handler turned travel ‘expert’ Simon Calder.
Background of the flight.
Global Airlines bought their Airbus A380, their sole aircraft, several years ago and since then it has been undergoing maintenance and training under the care of Hi-Fly Malta, a charter specialist, as Global Airlines does not hold an AOC so can’t carry out its own flights.
The aircraft was delivered to China Southern in 2013 where it operated with the Chinese airline until it was stored in 2022. It was purchased by Global Airlines in 2023.
As Global Airlines doesn’t hold an AOC the flight from Glasgow to New York was operated by Hi-Fly Malta with their crew and under the flight number HFM380.
What Global Airlines promised.
Global Airlines has spent the last two years doing heavy PR and Marketing showcasing their state of the art cabin ideas and telling us how they will bring back the golden age of travel with partnerships with Laurent Pierre Champagne and high class caviar brands. They promised ensuite first class suites and state of the art in flight entertainment and connectivity.
Did they deliver?
Having watched reviews from the aforementioned travel vloggers it doesn’t appear so. A common theme running through all the reviews is the tired and old cabin that is on the A380 which is still the same as when it was in service with China Southern. Something they have had two years to transform into the promised cabin of dreams promised by James Asquith.
Noel Phillips, who bought a first class ticket, found lose trim panels and described the Global Airlines branding as cheap stickers. A sentiment echoed by Josh Cahill, who travelled in Business Class.
Almost all of the reviews commented on how the in-flight entertainment was almost non-existent with the seat back TV screens inoperative and the internal WiFi system unable to connect.
But they promised great quality food and boy did they deliver, eventually!
All the reviews commented on how good the food was but both Noel and Josh experienced signifacant delays in the food arriving with Josh’s review showing an almost hour long wait between the starter and main course being served.
The delays were so much that for many passengers, the promised second service simply didn’t happen.
So was the flight a success?
In terms of the flight taking off and landing at its destination, yes, the flight was a success but overall what was delivered fell way short of what was promised by Global Airlines marketing. To quote Josh Cahilll, they over promised and under delivered.
Surprisingly Simon Calder was one of the few that did swoon over the flight in his reviews for the Independent but his views seemed to be very much of a minority.
But everything is subjective, so why not check out the reviews for yourself and see what you think. Was the flight a success, or a failure? Let us know what you think on our X, Bluesky or Facebook pages.
Josh Cahill’s Review
Noel Phillips’ Review
Simon Calder’s Review
Infinite Flight’s Review
