Global Airlines launch flights announced

[alholmes]

Book your flights for the first Global flights operated by Hi Fly

www.ga.flights

Yesterday Global Airlines announced their launch flights for their A380, operated by Hi Fly.

- 15 May, Glasgow - JFK
- 19 May, JFK - Glasgow
- 21 May, Manchester - JFK
- 25 May, JFK - Manchester

No fares published yet, but passengers can pre-register. And no indication of any flights beyond those initial four.

I’m still not convinced the business model of this airline is viable. 4-day stopovers aren’t good for the economics, and I’m not sure demand exists for an A380 on these routes in the long-term. Still, I’m sure the first flights will be full of invited guests, journalists, influencers etc.

 

[edwin_m]

With all the apprehension about what Trump might do, including various stories about people being denied entry, I'm not sure it's a good time to be launching short stay holidays to NYC. Also how will their immigration cope with an A380 load of foreign passport holders?

 

[AlterEgo]

Looking forward to the real story of this airline coming out.

 

[baz962]

With all the apprehension about what Trump might do, including various stories about people being denied entry, I'm not sure it's a good time to be launching short stay holidays to NYC. Also how will their immigration cope with an A380 load of foreign passport holders?

I'm sure you would be fine. I just came back from the us with no problems whatsoever. In fact I got through CBP in possibly my fastest ever time.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Off-topic somewhat - but I'd recommend any UK passport holder with intent to visit the USA and with nothing "dark" in their past to consider obtaining Global Entry. I found the process painless and at USD100 + GBP42 for five years' validity, is not expensive. After which, immigration to the USA is a breeze, and TSA entry to US airports (whether leaving the country or for an internal flight) is likewise hugely eased.

 

[nlogax]

This is going to be interesting. Tbh I'm not in the frame of mind to test their product early doors..

 

[Acfb]

This is the first I've heard of 'Global Airlines'.

Is there a market for this? At Glasgow they will have a monopoly on the route but at Manchester they will be going up against Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic.

Seems an odd time to launch flights to JFK as well.

 

[Iskra]

This is the first I've heard of 'Global Airlines'.

Is there a market for this? At Glasgow they will have a monopoly on the route but at Manchester they will be going up against Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic.

Seems an odd time to launch flights to JFK as well.

When I last flew Aer Lingus from Manchester to JFK on a decent fare, I had a row to myself and the rear of the cabin of the A321neo LR was very sparsely populated. Good luck indeed with an A380!

 

[baz962]

Off-topic somewhat - but I'd recommend any UK passport holder with intent to visit the USA and with nothing "dark" in their past to consider obtaining Global Entry. I found the process painless and at USD100 + GBP42 for five years' validity, is not expensive. After which, immigration to the USA is a breeze, and TSA entry to US airports (whether leaving the country or for an internal flight) is likewise hugely eased.

What does it actually give you. My son lives near seattle and I just got back and I have seen the adverts and always wondered. Saying that I got my suitcase and then through CBP in around 3 mins on this occasion.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Looking forward to the real story of this airline coming out.

It does seem a little odd just to have a few random flights, with no actual schedule and permanent route network evident.

I thought that they were trying to replicate the old fashioned luxury "golden era of aviation" experience that Virgin Atlantic probably comes closest to (in terms of UK airlines). It would probably be smart to start on one route between a regional UK city and an airport serving a large metropolitan area that is underserved, and keep at it for 6 months to build reputation. No idea what their real strategy is.

 

[pug1]

Screams con to me. Outsourcing all regulatory oversight and support apparently to another AOC (Hifly?) as a wet lease.. Basically just renting an aircraft, getting it sprayed ‘Global Airlines’ and selling one off trips from airports that can barely support such services anyway. It is not a money making business model by any stretch.

Certainly wouldn’t be giving them a penny of my hard earned cash. Seems like an ‘insta friendly’ thing run by some kind of ‘influencer’ with very little backing. If their one aircraft ends up tech down-route in JFK that’s potentially 400 people who will have to be transported back to the U.K. somehow..

 

[AlastairFraser]

Screams con to me. Outsourcing all regulatory and support stuff apparently to another AOC (Hifly?) as a wet lease.. Basically just renting an aircraft, getting it sprayed ‘Global Airlines’ and selling one off trips from airports that can barely support such services anyway.

Certainly wouldn’t be giving them a penny of my hard earned cash. Seems like an ‘insta friendly’ thing run by some kind of ‘influencer’ with very little backing.

Question is - who gave them funding to buy the A380s in the first place?!

 

[nwales58]

Question is - who gave them funding to buy the A380s in the first place?!

A load of small investors have handed over double-digit millions, according to Companies House filings for IHTG Limited and Global Airlines.

I strongly urge everyone to read the PPrune thread from beginning to end:

New Start - Global Airlines - PPRuNe Forums

Airlines, Airports & Routes - New Start - Global Airlines - April 1st come early? https://onemileatatime.com/news/airl...e-iP0YLIUI0me4 Mind you, my daughter would probably demand to fly Gamer Class, as she is a leading 'streamer' on Twitch (Amazon). She could make money, whilst I have to spend...

www.pprune.org

A UK company owns an aircraft registered in Malta operated for them by Hi-Fly, a Portuguese (reputable) company. As such from the UK it could only operate charters to the USA. You would be buying from an agent, Travelopedia. Global is not a CAA-licensed airline.

 

[pug1]

Question is - who gave them funding to buy the A380s in the first place?!

They haven’t bought them, they intend to operate one on a wet lease from Hifly.

 

[nwales58]

They haven’t bought them, they intend to operate one on a wet lease from Hifly.

PPrune concensus is that a Global company owns 9H-GLOBL (ex-China Southern). Hi-Fly ceased operating their own A380 9H-MIP (ex-BA I thinkEdit: SIA, see @Ted633 below) in 2020.

It’s a weird legal chain. Global have no licenses, not CAA nor EASA.

Certainly wouldn’t be giving them a penny of my hard earned cash.

Nor me.

 

[pug1]

PPrune concensus is that a Global company owns 9H-GLOBL (ex-China Southern). Hi-Fly ceased operating their own A380 9H-MIP (ex-BA I think) in 2020.

It’s a weird legal chain. Global have no licenses, not CAA nor EASA.


Nor me.

EDIT: you are indeed correct, and Asquith appears to have convinced his investors to help enable the purchase of one A380 which has been prepared to enter into service by Hi-Fly and it would appear it’s going to operate under their Maltese AOC. It’s one way to lose a lot of money very quickly.

 

[AlterEgo]

It does seem a little odd just to have a few random flights, with no actual schedule and permanent route network evident.

I thought that they were trying to replicate the old fashioned luxury "golden era of aviation" experience that Virgin Atlantic probably comes closest to (in terms of UK airlines). It would probably be smart to start on one route between a regional UK city and an airport serving a large metropolitan area that is underserved, and keep at it for 6 months to build reputation. No idea what their real strategy is.

A lot will come out about this airline in the next few months. Should be interesting.

 

[AlastairFraser]

A load of small investors have handed over double-digit millions, according to Companies House filings for IHTG Limited and Global Airlines.

I strongly urge everyone to read the PPrune thread from beginning to end:

New Start - Global Airlines - PPRuNe Forums

Airlines, Airports & Routes - New Start - Global Airlines - April 1st come early? https://onemileatatime.com/news/airl...e-iP0YLIUI0me4 Mind you, my daughter would probably demand to fly Gamer Class, as she is a leading 'streamer' on Twitch (Amazon). She could make money, whilst I have to spend...

www.pprune.org

A UK company owns an aircraft registered in Malta operated for them by Hi-Fly, a Portuguese (reputable) company. As such from the UK it could only operate charters to the USA. You would be buying from an agent, Travelopedia. Global is not a CAA-licensed airline.

Oof. Thank you, I will give it a read. I would not want to be one of those investors right now.

A lot will come out about this airline in the next few months. Should be interesting.

I can imagine so!

 

[Harpers Tate]

What does it actually give you.

Once fully sanctioned and in place, you get:
- on arrival at USA immigration, use of GE automated kiosks to enter, rather than waiting in line for a CBP official. At busy times/airports, that can make a huge difference. In GE equipped airports, there is a separate "line" for GE which, typically in my experience, has nobody waiting; straight up to a machine. My last GE was at Miami (which is somewhat notorious for immigration "grilling") and it was totally painless. Through with a wave and a "welcome back" from the otherwise totally passive officer.
- on entry to a USA airport secure area from "landside" (whether an internal or international departure), expedited security screening. Shoes and belt on, liquids inside bag, laptop inside bag, etc, and, again, a quicker/shorter queue (airport dependent).

...for 5 years and unlimited use.

If you want more detail on the process to apply or use, I suggest that's a subject for a separate thread.

 

[Ted633]

Looking at how BA have fared with the reliability of its 380's after a period of storage, I can't see this 380 being the most reliable aircraft around. Maybe that's why its planned to have 4 day layovers!

PPrune concensus is that a Global company owns 9H-GLOBL (ex-China Southern). Hi-Fly ceased operating their own A380 9H-MIP (ex-BA I think) in 2020.

9H-MIP was ex Singapore Airlines. A very early one at that.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

This is going to be interesting. Tbh I'm not in the frame of mind to test their product early doors..

Exactly. I will wait and let others test and report before I try them .

 

[Airline Man]

I’ve been in the airline business for forty years and still don’t know what they’re trying to achieve. I’m not sure whether this is going to be a scheduled airline or a charter company. All their traffic is going to be point to point with no connecting traffic and even with dirt cheap give away fares they’re really going to struggle to fill an A380 even more so if they’re flying from regional airports. Why they have gone for the A380 is beyond me. Yes, it’s popular with passengers but it’s far too big even for the majority of major established airlines.

if their sole aircraft goes tech, they’ve had it. None of this makes sense.

Also, I’ve never heard of anyone in their leadership team. I would have thought someone from my past would surface up and join them. Nope.

 

[nwales58]

I’ve been in the airline business for forty years and still don’t know what they’re trying to achieve.

Let’s not be too rational. Social media-influenced investors fund social media expert’s aviation dream with enough millions to get as far as an aircraft, but insufficient millions and expertise to achieve a licensed and regulated airline so far.

What it has achieved is the longest-running amusement thread on pprune that I can remember.

 

[AlterEgo]

Let’s not be too rational. Social media-influenced investors fund social media expert’s aviation dream with enough millions to get as far as an aircraft, but insufficient millions and expertise to achieve a licensed and regulated airline so far.

What it has achieved is the longest-running amusement thread on pprune that I can remember.

Well quite. It’s not *actually* an airline. They don’t even have an AOC! HiFly of Malta will operate all the flights.

 

[nwales58]

Well quite. It’s not *actually* an airline. They don’t even have an AOC! HiFly of Malta will operate all the flights.

Indeed, I wrote:

... insufficient millions and expertise to achieve a licensed and regulated airline so far.

which was trying to keep it short.

Without going through all the gore, we have regulation for good reasons: the AOC is about safety because getting killed isn't nice, plus economic regulation because passengers and suppliers don't like losing money and an uneconomic airline often becomes an unsafe one.

Gaining an AOC needs a fully functioning operational organisation including all the people, processes and contracts to operate specific aircraft. Even with a charter or scheduled AOC there is still far more to do before seats can legally be sold. Scheduled UK-US would need to satisfy the current UK-US air transport agreement which needs a UK licensed airline (pre-2020 it was an EU-US agreement so any EU airline would have qualified).

HiFly are the only fully licensed and regulated part of this as far as I can understand. Using Travelopedia and Euroairlines allow seats to be sold but I'm not an expert on precisely who has to charter from who to make this legal but no doubt Global have sorted that out. I recall a legal distinction between an airline ticket agent and a travel agent but it's too complicated for me nowadays (contract with the airline versus contract with the agent? but what if either is outside the UK so not under our CAA, in which case whose law and regulator apply?).

 

[MCR247]

What’s ‘interesting’ to me is how much they’ve been in the press. At one point it seemed like there was a new article every day, “UKs newest airlines first plane touches down in Glasgow” etc

 

[Bald Rick]

Is this the aviation equivalent of Go-Op?

 

[John R]

Is this the aviation equivalent of Go-Op?

Indeed, I drew that parallel a few days ago, but it was deemed off topic and deleted, as maybe I took the analogy into too much detail.

 

[Bald Rick]

Indeed, I drew that parallel a few days ago, but it was deemed off topic and deleted, as maybe I took the analogy into too much detail.

I await moderation developments!

 

[AlterEgo]

Is this the aviation equivalent of Go-Op?

Not quite because Go-Op actually intended to run their own trains.