Global Airlines Opens Bookings for Its First Commercial Flight
500 seats are available on the startup's first flight, from Glasgow to JFK, in May
Photo: Courtesy of Global Airlines / LinkedIn
Startup British carrier Global Airlines has started selling tickets for its inaugural flight, scheduled to depart on May 15 from Glasgow, Scotland (GLA) to New York (JFK). The airline is offering 506 seats on its Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial airliner, which features two decks.
Ticket Pricing
In addition to the inaugural flight, Global Airlines is also promoting return flights to Glasgow, departing on May 19. The airline will also operate flights between Manchester (MAN) and JFK on May 21 and May 25.
| Flight | Date | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Economy | Business Class | First Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow - New York | 15-May | 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 7h0m | £466.63 ($619.58) | £2,042 ($2,711) | £3,502 ($4,650) |
| New York - Glasgow | 19-May | 8:00 AM | 7:15 PM | 6h15m | £311.99 ($414.07) | £1,657 ($2,200) | £3,003 ($3,986) |
| Manchester - New York | 21-May | 12:25 PM | 2:25 PM | 7h30m | £415.45 ($551.31) | £1,864 ($2,474) | £3,256 ($4,321) |
| New York - Manchester | 25-May | 8:55 AM | 8:40 PM | 6h45m | £218.83 ($290.33) | £1,605 ($2,129) | £2,726 ($3,617) |
Economy class or “Global Traveller” tickets are priced from £218.83 ($290.33) to £466.63 ($619.58), depending on the flight, while business class seats start at £1,605 ($2,129). The eight first-class seats on each flight start at £2,726 ($3,617).
Photo: Courtesy of James Asquith / LinkedIn
That’s more expensive than you’ll find with an established airline. While the roundtrip from Glasgow to New York in coach will cost you £778.62 ($1,031.26) total with Global Airlines, you can make a similar nonstop trip from Edinburgh (EDI), 42 miles away from Glasgow, to JFK on the same dates with Delta for £400 ($529.82) round trip, or a one-stop jaunt from Glasgow to JFK with British Airways, via London Heathrow (LHR), for £399 ($528.49).
What is Global Airlines?
Before you book your seats, you might reasonably wonder what Global Airlines is. It’s the latest venture of 36-year-old entrepreneur and travel enthusiast James Asquith. Asquith earned his fortune—estimated at £182 million ($241 million) by the Sunday Times Rich List last year—by founding Holiday Swap, a travel platform that enables other adventurers to swap homes.
Like Branson before him, he now aspires to operate a transatlantic airline—one with an all-Airbus A380 fleet flying premium routes from London Gatwick to New York and Los Angeles (LAX).
In October 2023, Asquith appeared on The Business Traveler Show, discussing his vision of launching operations in 2024 with a fleet of four Airbus A380s.
Challenges Ahead
The startup boldly claims it will “revolutionize commercial flying” and offer “fast relief from the aches and pains” normally experienced in airports and during flights. However, it hasn’t yet acquired an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) or a UK Foreign Carrier Permit. So, while the jet is owned by Global Airlines, the flights in May will actually be operated by Hi Fly Malta, a subsidiary of Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly.
Can a startup airline attract travelers and turn a profit in one of the most crowded aviation markets in the world? Legacy carriers are already operating dozens of flights daily between the U.S. and the UK and are well prepared to slash ticket prices. Furthermore, Global Airlines hasn’t picked an auspicious launch date.
Demand for travel between the UK and the U.S. has slumped since the inauguration of President Trump. The number of Brits traveling to the U.S. in March was down 14.3 percent on the previous year, according to official figures.
The fall was even steeper for travelers from other European countries, many of whom travel through the UK to the U.S. and have sworn off American vacations in protest of Trump’s policies. Tariffs and an escalating trade war could also depress business travel to the U.S. this year.
Still, it’s interesting to have another option for transatlantic travel. We’re especially curious to see Global Airlines’ soft product, which has largely been kept under wraps, beyond the promise of “limited edition amenity kits” for all travelers and “high-quality menus.” Global Airlines says it intends to introduce additional routes and expand its fleet this year, although whether it can nab landing slots at hotly contested London Gatwick remains to be seen.
