Meet the new UK start-up aiming to launch with A380s

Global airlines is definitely one to watch!

When you are talking about start-up airlines, and we see many, you often approach it with a pinch of salt, probably 9 out of 10 never get passed a funding stage and some even border line on a scam (see Firnas Airways!) so when something drops into your inbox about a start-up with super jumbos, eyebrows get raised.

The Airbus A380 Super Jumbo has been a thorn in the side for many airlines, it may be the biggest airliner in the sky and offer more seats more than any other but it is hardly the most efficient aircraft around for a UK based transatlantic operation.

Coronavirus also signed the death warrant for many of the worlds A380 fleet with aircraft, often under 10 years old, sent to storage or even scrapped.

Few airlines make the aircraft work, Emirates being the most successful of all but most airlines have actually scaled down to smaller more efficient aircraft, Aer Lingus for example use A321neo’s on many of its US east cost services.

As a result though, there are a lot of A380s sat around doing noting and available relatively cheaply, which is perhaps why UK start-up, Global Airlines has said it will operate four of them.

Usually we would just laugh this off but at the end of may this year, they signed a deal with German lessor Doric Aviation and effectively acquired their first super jumbo.

So who are Global Airlines?

Launched in 2021 by entrepreneur James Asquith Global Airlines wants to bring high quality travel to transatlantic and worldwide passengers.

They want to put the customer at the heart of the airline with a high standard of customer service from booking, through check-in through to being onboard the aircraft.

The airline is making some good appointments too, they recently appointed former director of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Richard Stephenson OBE as their chief commercial officer.

It is hard to think Mr Stephenson would take on that role unless there was some credibility to all this.

When they acquired their first A380, James Asquith, CEO and Founder of Global Airlines, said “Our aspiration is to be the best way to fly, and the A380, with its unmatched levels of space, comfort, and service, will be absolutely central to achieving that vision. The purchase of our first aircraft demonstrates that we are well on the way to launching Global.

“The next step is to overhaul and refit the aircraft to our high specification, providing our customers with the best experience in the sky today. Acquiring our aircraft rather than leasing showcases our commitment to financial security and resilience from day one.”

So whilst we watch all start-ups, we will certainly be watching Global Airlines even closer now as their credibility seems to be growing week by week.