At 11am on Thursday 15 May, a new British airline is due to make its maiden flight. A giant Airbus A380 plane in the colours of Global Airlines will lift off from Glasgow Airport in Scotland, destination New York JFK.
The founder, businessman James Asquith, has pledged to “take passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, reinvigorating the onboard experience with elevated service” between the UK and US.
Asquith, 36, promises a new era of flying, saying: “People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better.” Passengers on his airline will enjoy “the best experience in the sky” and get “fast relief from the aches and pains associated with commercial air travel”.
But not everyone agrees that a newcomer flying a very large aircraft in a very crowded market is what the world needs. Global Airlines owns the double-deck A380 – the world’s largest passenger plane – across the North Atlantic.
Initially return economy fares were set at nearly £800 – but with slow sales, prices have been more than halved. Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent at The Independent, bought a ticket for the inaugural departure (at the higher price) and will be reporting from Glasgow airport.
Seat swapping
At the gate, my boarding pass for seat 52F has been swapped for 73K.
“We’re seating everyone on the upper deck,” the ground staff member explained.
Some airlines, including China Southern (previous owner of the Global Airlines aircraft) and British Airways, fit some economy seats on the upper deck of the Airbus A380.
With only around one-third of seats sold or given away, it makes sense to keep all the economy passengers together to make meal service easier.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 11:02
Tall tale
Derek Steell, 60, retired civil servant, has been given an upgrade from economy to business class.
He said: “I’m 6ft 4in. Usually, when we go with British Airways, we go in premium economy.
“I mentioned it to the check-in girl and asked if I could pay for an upgrade.
“She called somebody over and they authorised it for me and my wife, free of charge.”
Simon Calder15 May 2025 10:53
Where else are passengers flying this morning?
Travellers who prefer not to risk a tough time with US Customs and Border Protection can choose from a wide range of other destinations from Glasgow airport this morning.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 10:40
Food and drink is loaded onto the aircraft ahead of departure
With 25 minutes to go before departure, catering is still being loaded onto the aircraft. The rumour among airport staff is that food and drink for the inaugural flight cost £40,000.
The Independent has asked Global Airlines to confirm or correct this figure.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 10:37
Heading through duty-free
Staff at duty-free at Glasgow Airport, not exactly overstretched.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 10:25
Check in closes for Global Airlines’ maiden flight
Check in has now closed at Glasgow. A total of 170 passengers are believed to be on board the flight.
That is one third of the total passenger capacity of the Airbus A380 belonging to Global Airlines.
Ground staff are now preparing for the arrival of Glasgow’s only scheduled A380, flying in for Emirates from Dubai.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 10:10
£2,999 for a business class ticket
The aviation and travel vlogger Noel Philips paid £2,999 for a business class ticket, but on checking in found he had been upgraded to first for the Global Airlines flight from Glasgow airport to New York.
Mr Philips, 44, is British but now lives in Magnolia, Texas. “I came over on Icelander and I literally got in last night and then I’m flying back today,” he told The Independent. “I’m going back home on the first flight of the Global A380 and it’s super-exciting.”
Referring to Global Airlines founder James Asquith, he said: “This guy who set this airline up is a man with a dream. It’s the classic underdog story – he started with a plane and not much else and nobody thought he would get to this point. I didn’t think he would get to this point, and here we are, literally, a plane-full of passengers about to get on board an Airbus A380 and fly to New York. It’s incredible.
“They mean business. Even though it’s only a charter, it’s actually showing that actually there is something going on here.”
When pressed about whether he would invest in Global Airlines, he said: “I wouldn’t put my own money into this airline other than buying a ticket.
“There’s a bridge I can sell you, potentially.”
I was actually, a little bit nervous about buying a ticket, if I’m honest. But you know what? They’re here and it’s going, and at least I’ve not lost the three grand I put down on my ticket.”
Simon Calder15 May 2025 09:32
A touch of class
The travel journalism aristocracy has now shown up at Global Airlines check-in at Glasgow airport: my former colleague, Cathy Adams, senior commissioning travel editor for The Times and the Sunday Times.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 09:22
‘I’m expecting the operation to go a little rocky at first’ says passenger
Among the first to check in: father and son William and Kyle Schmidt, who have flown from their home in California for the launch.
“We’ve been looking forward to this flight for quite some time,” said William, 57. “I found it interesting because it’s an all-A380 airline – and they have a good model of wanting to do nice classes of service,” said Kyle, 15. “I’m expecting it to be a nice cabin – they just reupholstered it. I’m expecting the operation to go a little rocky at first, but then work themselves.”
The pair are planning to return to Glasgow on the same aircraft on Monday 19 May before flying home.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 09:16
Check-in opens for Global Airlines
Passengers are now checking in for the first transatlantic flight by a Global Airlines aircraft – from Glasgow airport to New York JFK.
Dozens of passengers are lined up for Hi Fly flight HFM 380. An arch made of red, white and blue balloons has been set up, and cupcakes to celebrate the event are being handed out.
There is a single desk for each class: economy (“Global Traveller”), business and first – just along from the Aer Lingus check-in desk for Cork.
Simon Calder15 May 2025 08:51
