Global Airlines took to the skies just over a week ago – but it’s not an airline at all, instead it’s an online flight sales brand selling flights on a second-hand Airbus A380

Jeff Reines and Liv Clarke

10:05, 25 May 2025

(Image: Liv Clarke)

If you’ve jetted off to the Big Apple before, chances are you’ve flown with Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic, or maybe you’ve connected through London with British Airways or hopped across the pond with an American carrier. But now, there’s a fresh face on the scene aiming to revolutionise transatlantic flights by bringing back the glamour of the ‘Golden Age’ of air travel.

Out of the blue, Global Airlines has thrown its hat into the ring to compete in a sector already brimming with established brands, and it plans to do so with the colossal “Superjumbo” Airbus A380.

The venture was kicked off in 2021 by entrepreneur James Asquith, who took possession of a second-hand A380 that had seen 12 years of service with China Southern as of May 2023. Asquith, dubbed a ‘multimillionaire’, may be new to the aviation industry but is no stranger to travel; he’s the brains behind Holiday Swap, an alternative to Airbnb, and also boasts a Guinness World Record for being the youngest bloke to visit every sovereign nation.

For Asquith, starting his own airline has been a lifelong ambition, but the question remains whether this dream can take flight.

His blueprint involves a radical overhaul of the plane to include five distinct classes, the introduction of a ‘gaming’ cabin, a lively onboard bar, and the debut of a new class that merges the perks of business with premium economy, reports the Manchester Evening News.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

All this is part of his mission to offer flyers the chance to soar on a four-engine double-decker aircraft, an increasingly uncommon thrill as most carriers opt for smaller, easier-to-handle planes. Currently, Emirates stands out as one of the few operators of A380s, with three daily departures from Manchester.

On May 15, Global Airlines launched its inaugural flight from Glasgow to New York JFK, garnering mixed reviews. Although touted as a unique experience, the reality fell short – the “gamer cabin” was noticeably absent, and the aircraft still bore the markings of its previous operator, China Southern.

Reviews of the flight were polarized, with YouTuber Josh Cahill expressing disappointment in his video, “Global Airlines STRANGE First Flight and it was VERY BAD!”, citing over-promising and under-delivering. Conversely, Simon Calder, The Independent’s travel expert, praised the experience, describing it as a “very comfortable flight” and a “fascinating event”.

Interestingly, despite its branding, Global Airlines is not an airline in its own right, lacking an operating licence. Instead, it is operated by Portuguese carrier Hi Fly, with flight sales managed by Travelopedia.

On May 21, I boarded Global Airlines’ second flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK. The atmosphere was electric, with an air of excitement permeating every aspect of the experience, from check-in to take-off, as dozens of plane enthusiasts watched from the airport’s perimeter fence.

There was an unmistakable sense of something special happening, yet as the flight progressed, it became clear that the Global Airlines product was still in development. The branded headrest covers, vanity kits and flight menus couldn’t mask the fact that you were sitting inside an aircraft showing 12 years’ worth of wear and tear.

Strip away the logos from any other major airline and you’d likely still recognise the brand identity. Remove the Global Airlines logos and you’d be clueless as to what plane you’re on – not ideal in a time when customer trust in brands is crucial.

But being seated on an Airbus A380?

Now, that was rather impressive. Many of my fellow passengers seemed to agree – several YouTubers were on board gushing over the experience with cameras popping up everywhere like periscopes above the seats.

Among them were husband and wife duo Kara and Nate, who boast 4.2million subscribers. Another YouTuber had journeyed from Melbourne, Australia to be on board.

So how did it fare?

Here’s my account of the Global Airlines flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK.

Check-in and boarding

Late on the eve of the flight, we received an email from James Asquith himself stating that he was “looking forward to seeing us” and providing information about which check-in desks to use and reminding us to have an ESTA – practical advice but far too late for anyone to acquire one if they hadn’t yet.

We were also advised to fully charge our devices, as they would be needed to access the in-flight entertainment system, and informed that there would be no Wi-Fi available on board. I found the former more frustrating, as I enjoy watching films on long-haul flights and appreciate being disconnected from the internet for several hours.

Not owning a tablet, I had no desire to strain my eyes watching a movie on my phone screen.

It’s also worth noting that Global Airlines’ website is quite basic and lacks guidance on customer service. There was no customer support number, and our emails regarding a booking query went unanswered.

Most major airlines offer the option to manage bookings online, but this was not the case here.

Upon arriving at check-in the next morning at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1, we saw banners displaying Global Airlines’ branding (with “operated by Hi Fly” in small print), one for each class: Global Traveller, Global Business, and Global First.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

A photo opportunity with a sparkly backdrop, branded cupcakes, and a buzz among passengers added to the excitement. I noticed two men with Airbus A380 keychains attached to their bags.

I struck up a conversation with two young men who had won their tickets in an Instagram competition, learning about their win only 48 hours before the flight’s departure. After receiving my economy ticket, I proceeded through security like any other traveller.

I must mention that this was the smoothest security experience I’ve ever had, breezing through in less than five minutes thanks to the new scanners that don’t require you to remove anything from your bags, making it a seamless process for passengers.

I can’t say whether business and first class passengers were whisked away to a lounge, but I found myself left to my own devices in Manchester’s soon-to-be-demolished Terminal 1. However, I did enjoy views of the Global Airlines A380 as I sipped my coffee in Starbucks, with the aircraft dwarfing all others nearby.

Having purchased my obligatory (at least for me) magazines and a 750ml bottle of Buxton from WH Smiths, gate 20D was announced and I made my way there, where I was greeted by a man who directed me downstairs.

It quickly became apparent that the flight wouldn’t be heavily populated. I later learned that there were between 80-90 passengers on the plane, which has a capacity of around 500.

This raises the question: why operate such a large aircraft if it can’t even be filled?

Asquith himself arrived surrounded by a group of people, but without any fanfare – you wouldn’t know it was him unless you recognised his face – no grandstanding here. First class passengers were, naturally, called up first, partially filling the bus that would transport them to the aircraft.

The rest of us were then ushered on, although when my boarding ticket was checked I was told it needed to be altered and received a premium ticket – although there was no mention of the term ‘upgrade’, simply that I had been issued the incorrect ticket at check in.

We sped across the apron to the plane, which bore the Global Airlines livery, its vast size truly becoming apparent. And it really was a behemoth of a plane – honestly massive.

Even the ground staff seemed thrilled about it. We ascended the steps to the lower deck, and headed inside.

We were guided upstairs, passing through the first class cabin on the way, and then I settled into my seat in business.

Take off and settling in

The flight was scheduled to depart at 12.25pm, at 12.45pm we were taxiing to the runway, and after a smooth take off – watched by dozens of plane spotters – we were airborne by 1pm, informed by the pilot that the flight would be six hours and 30 minutes.

My business class cabin was barely a quarter full, unlike any other flight I’ve been on. The way it’s arranged is that there are four seats across – one at either window and two in the middle.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

Each has a side table, a screen directly in front of the seat and a foot rest which comes into use when you recline the seat into the flat position.

The foot rest also has a handy storage section for your shoes or bag. There’s a tray table that can be pulled out for dining, and plenty of storage for your books, phones and more beside the seat.

My seat was adorned with a certificate for the maiden voyage, a menu, a bookmark bearing a message from Asquith, a blanket, a cushion and a vanity kit. This kit, housed in a sleek leather wallet, contained socks, an eye mask, ear plugs, a dental kit and a pen.

It was quite decent, but not too different from a Turkish Airlines economy kit I recently acquired – which even included slippers.

The seat was indeed comfortable and roomy; having the side table was a definite bonus. However, it felt worn and outdated; I spotted several scuffs and stains, and when I fully reclined my seat, what appeared to be tea or coffee stains were visible on the plastic back of the seat.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

It was evident where old stickers had been peeled off, and where new ones were concealing the old. Patterns from China Southern were still discernible and it all seemed rather shabby.

Clearly, this wasn’t what Global Airline had envisioned.

Food and drink(Image: Liv Clarke)

I was given the Global Traveller menu, which presumably meant I would be served the economy meal whilst seated in business class, a bit odd but not unheard of if you’re upgraded at the last minute. The menu stated that we would be offered a variety of drinks including Laurent Perrier Champagne, fine wines, spirits and beers, soft drinks and juices, along with snacks.

I anticipated a round of drinks before the meal, but it didn’t materialise. However, I noticed that a few passengers near the front were being served, revealing a disparity in service between them and myself and other nearby passengers.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

Lunch was served after a reasonable wait: a starter of caprese salad, a choice of main course between herbed chicken ballantine, pan-fried sea bass or spiced white bean and aubergine cassolette, and a citrus tart for dessert.

I opted for the chicken, which was delightful, accompanied by carrots, spring onion, and crushed potatoes with gravy. The salad was enjoyable, complete with a charming miniature bottle of dressing, while the tart was exceptional, offering a refreshing tanginess and lightness.

However, the bread roll was not served warm as is customary on flights, making it rather chewy. There was also no salt and pepper, or wet wipe provided with the cutlery.

We were offered a drink, but there was no champagne in sight, so I selected white wine. The meal was satisfactory, but it lacked refinement.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

I was told that during the Glasgow flight there was a delay in loading the food, resulting in long waits for passengers, although this was not an issue on our flight.

About an hour later, the crew came around to offer us a snack such as crisps, olives and sweets, along with a drink. This time I requested champagne and I did receive it, along with some salted Kettle chips.

Our menu also had an ‘a la carte’ section which included two types of afternoon tea, one for meat-eaters and one vegetarian. Roughly 90 minutes before we were due to land the crew came round asking if we wanted anything – but didn’t explicitly say ‘would you like the afternoon tea’, it was only by me pushing for more information that they said the afternoon tea was available.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

I feared a bout of turbulence would threaten its arrival, but it safely appeared, although the sandwiches were a mix from both the options and the scones were missing. It was delicious though and filled a hole – I was just glad I had the initiative to push for it.

In flight entertainment.

Inflight entertainment, particularly if you’re not going to offer wifi, is key on a long haul flight. Across most major airlines it’s gone from strength to strength and often it’s a chance to catch up on new releases you may have missed in the cinema.

So to be told the screens wouldn’t be working on board was a huge disappointment for me, particularly as I didn’t have a tablet computer. I knew I wasn’t going to bother watching anything but out of curiosity I scanned the QR code which connected me to the Global Times network.

The option to view the flight route was available, albeit in a very basic manner: departure time, arrival time, ground speed and other typical in-flight information were not visible. It seemed that my friends and family on the ground had more information about my flight than I did up in the air.

A few films were available for viewing, including Beetlejuice, Barbie and Twister, among others that were unfamiliar to me. There was a category labelled ‘Europeen’ – misspelled, with only a handful of TV shows, including the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

I opted to stick with my magazines and podcasts, often catching my blurred reflection in the unused screen opposite me.

The service

The plane was staffed by a Hi Fly crew, though I was told some had undergone Global Airlines training and all were in uniform. The crew members were friendly, courteous and performed their duties professionally.

At one point, we were given hot damp cloths (always a treat) and a selection of hand, foot and cuticle creams – I used the hand cream, but due to cabin pressure, it kept flowing out, requiring a wet wipe to manage the excessive greasiness. Nonetheless, it was a nice gesture.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

However, you couldn’t shake off the feeling that this wasn’t a Global Airlines crew, contributing to the sense of an incomplete product. Cabin crews usually take great pride in their airlines; here, it felt like they were playing a part.

The other cabins(Image: Liv Clarke)

I had the opportunity to explore both the first class cabin, located on the lower deck, and the economy cabin. The latter was pretty much as you’d anticipate.

Much like the business cabin, first class was roomy, with each seat in its own cubicle equipped with screens that could be closed for privacy. The Global Airlines touch was once again noticeable in the soft product: petite leather handbags containing the vanity kits, beige pyjama sets (which one Youtuber demonstrated has a zip that encloses the hood part entirely, almost resembling a morph suit), and slippers.

(Image: Liv Clarke)

I managed to get a glimpse of the first class menu, which boasted more options than a high-end restaurant. Lunch choices included caviar, antipasti, a cheese platter and a smoked salmon platter.

An ‘amuse bouche’ course featured dishes such as tuna tartar, duck foie gras, and smoked duck breast.

Somewhat puzzlingly, if economy’s ‘a la carte’ was a lighter snack option of afternoon tea, first class offered a three-course feast.

Considering this is a flight of less than seven hours, after their lunch, passengers in first could then dine on: beetroot salad, tomato and mozzarella or balik salmon; followed by: blackened miso cod, beef tender rib, chicken ballantine or pan-fried butternut squash; and finished with ‘pina colada’ and ‘strawberry gem’ desserts or a chocolate and avocado mousse.

The menu is certainly ambitious and impressive. However, I suspect it’s the sort of fare you’d prefer to enjoy in a brand new first class seat, not one that’s over a decade old.

What was the cost of the flights?

We shelled out £697.28 for return flights from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, booked a week prior to departure. This included 10kg hand luggage and 23kg hold luggage.

However, in the weeks leading up to departure, they announced several flash sales, with return economy tickets starting from £380 and return business tickets from £1999.

A safe landing, but an uncertain future

Catching glimpses of the iconic Manhattan skyline, we landed smoothly at JFK, our bags promptly ready to collect after clearing passport control.

The A380, owned by Global Airlines, did manage to take off and safely deliver its passengers to their destination.

Judging by the buzz surrounding the A380, perhaps Asquith is onto something. There was a sense of magic in the air, the hint that this could be the start of something truly exciting.

However, the product I experienced felt unfinished. It somewhat resembled a stunt, akin to how people rent grounded private jets just to post photos on their social media, creating an illusion.

This felt like the A380 had been rented too, adorned with some logos and sent off on potentially a one-off service.

Global Airlines still has a significant journey ahead to establish a robust brand identity, revamp its A380 (let alone expand its fleet), and crucially, it needs to become an official airline. Until that point, trusted brands such as Aer Lingus, Virgin and British Airways seem much more attractive for transatlantic routes from Manchester.

Should Asquith succeed, Global Airlines will represent a fresh chapter in the narrative of aviation. However, that’s a rather large, Superjumbo jet-sized if.