Global Airlines Launches Their First Transatlantic Service

Global Airlines A380-800 awaiting departure at Glasgow Airport. Image Credits: Simon Calder

On May 15, 2025, an Airbus A380-800 operated by Global Airlines departed on its inaugural flight from Glasgow Airport in Scotland en route to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. The wide-body aircraft took off at approximately 11:34 AM local time from runway 05, with an estimated flight time of 6 hours and 20 minutes, before landing at 12:57 PM local time in New York on runway 22L.

The Global Airlines A380-800, registered 9H-GLOBL, was towed to Glasgow’s gate 34 upon arrival from Beja, Portugal. The flight number, HFM-380, was operated by Hi Fly, a Portuguese company contracted to manage all of Global Airlines' A380 routes. Ticket prices ranged from £780 down to £380 in economy class, with first-class fares around £2,999.

Surprisingly, Global Airlines had no other available aircraft on standby, so if their only plane had broken down, the airline’s reputation would have been quickly shattered. Thankfully, the flight had a safe and smooth journey, and the crew and passengers made a safe landing in New York.

To note, one downside of this inaugural flight was that there was no Wi-Fi available, even for purchase. This means that there was no in-flight entertainment (IFE). Passengers had to rely on streaming movies or games via their own devices. On the upside, upon arrival at JFK, every passenger was invited to a complimentary three-hour reception at the iconic TWA Hotel.

Operating such big, wide-body aircraft poses significant challenges for Global Airlines, especially if they only have one aircraft. The A380 is currently the largest commercial plane available, and the plane’s large size and high operating costs require Global Airline’s seats to always be fully booked or else their airline won’t be profitable. This would make it extremely difficult to grow the new airline. To add, relying on a single, massive aircraft limits route flexibility and the ability to accommodate passengers to their destination if their only aircraft decides to break down. In the future, Global Airlines will have to decide if they want to proceed with operating with more A380s or diversify their fleet.

But, the flight was enjoyable by many of the passengers. One passenger aboard the flight, journalist Simon Calder happily says, “This wasn’t a return to ‘the golden age of travel’ — it was far better than that. I could happily have spent a few more hours being looked after by the friendly and professional crew.”

However, one big question remains: What is the future of Global Airlines from here?