UK-Based Aviation Startup Global Airlines Is Now Selling Tickets Ex Glasgow/Manchester to JFK

For the past few years, the illustrious UK-based aviation startup Global Airlines has made headlines with lofty plans for a new luxury airline serving exclusive champagne and providing a premium inflight experience and now you can actually buy tickets.

The company has been in the news mostly for signing agreements with champagne houses, procuring an Airbus A380 from China Southern, and hiring a whole range of executives besides the airline’s founder, James Asquith.

The flights will apparently be operated by HiFly, an operator who popped up several years ago and also had/has a previous Singapore Airlines A380, including their Suite Class and now Global Airlines has apparently partnered up with HiFly as well.

Over the past few years, ever since Asquith announced that he would start this Global Airlines project, there has been lots of critical media coverage about his plan and him personally. I so far avoided any kind of reporting about Global because there was nothing definitive, and engaging in mudslinging doesn’t make much sense to me. My approach was “Let’s see when they actually start selling tickets”.

Now, Global Airlines has a website where tickets are being sold (access here).

GA.FLIGHTS is delighted to have partnered with Hi Fly to bring you the chance to fly on the A380 owned by Global. It is an exciting time for us all as we see a great deal of work come to fruition as the team at Hi Fly make the final plans to take the Global A380 back into the skies.

The first two flights to go on sale will be departing from Manchester and Glasgow, both destined for JFK. The Glasgow flight will depart on 15 May and return on 19 May. The Manchester flight will depart on 21 May and return on 25 May.

These special A380 flights will be operated by Hi Fly. Onboard the cabins have all been overhauled to give a brand-new look and feel. The catering team has been busy preparing a new menu and there will be special ‘limited edition’ amenity kits in all cabins, for all passengers. If you’re travelling in First or Business, there will be the chance to book a chauffeur driven car to the airport, courtesy of our friends at Blacklane (subject to T&Cs).

With Global (well, HiFly) operating out of the UK, the company will face a couple of challenges, such as being subject to UK261 both to JFK and going back. Hopefully they won’t incur any problems or delays or that will be expensive,

Here are the flight options:

Glasgow – New York JFK – Glasgow

Manchester – New York JFK – Manchester

Trying to sell out an A380 only a month before departure is very optimistic, and I hope they find a few curious aviation nuts who are willing to jump on board.

What are you getting for almost 7000 pounds in First Class or 3500 pounds in Business? Nobody knows for sure.

Still, if you can afford it, then go ahead and book it, but I’d make sure that I keep my expectations in check and that I have decent travel insurance just in case.

Glasgow and Manchester aren’t exactly mainstream airports for such long-haul flights, but operating out of London is probably difficult, if not impossible, given the costs and slot availability.

Conclusion

The often-talked-about aviation startup Global Airlines has commenced ticket sales. The maiden flights from Glasgow and Manchester to New York JFK will take off next month (May 2025). I’m curious how many tickets they are going to sell one month prior from these secondary-tier airports.

This pricing is also very optimistic, at least for what is essentially a fun ride. These rates are premium fares in flexible booking classes used by corporate travelers on established full-service carriers. I don’t want to knock them, but here, you’re essentially buying a cat in a bag.

I’m extremely curious how these flights will go and what is being offered onboard. Plenty of stuff has been written about Global Airlines, but so far, those were all opinions and innuendos. It’s also unclear who is bankrolling this entire project, which must have already burned a fortune until now. I wish them luck nevertheless!

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