Global Airlines, a bold new player in the aviation world, has officially begun selling tickets for its highly anticipated transatlantic debut. The UK-based startup plans to launch its first flight on May 15, 2025, departing from Glasgow to New York aboard an Airbus A380—the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
The inaugural journey is set to leave Glasgow at 11 a.m. and arrive at JFK Airport approximately seven hours later. With over 500 seats, the double-decker A380 offers a mix of travel classes: 428 in economy, 70 in business, and 8 in first class. Tickets for the round trip are now available, priced at £778 for economy, £3,700 for business class, and £7,127 for first class.
Following its arrival in New York, the aircraft will remain on the ground for four days before returning to Scotland on May 19. But the adventure doesn’t stop there. Just two days later, on May 21, the A380 will take off again—this time from Manchester for a second four-day charter to the Big Apple.
Though the aircraft is owned by Global Airlines, the flight operations are being handled by Hi Fly Malta, a subsidiary of the Portuguese aviation group Hi Fly. The A380 itself is a 12-year-old former China Southern Airlines aircraft, and it retains the original seating configuration from its previous operator.
Tickets for these initial charter flights are being sold through Travelopedia, a UK-based travel company located in Slough. As of Tuesday morning, two of the eight luxurious first class seats had already been booked, showing early interest in what could be a unique addition to transatlantic air travel.
Global Airlines’ decision to enter the market with an A380—once seen as too large and uneconomical by many carriers—is an ambitious statement of intent. While major airlines have gradually retired or downsized their A380 fleets, Global is betting on its appeal as a spacious and premium experience for long-haul travelers.
Though this initial flight is categorized as a charter service, it’s being closely watched as a potential starting point for a full-scale transatlantic network. Whether Global Airlines can turn this high-profile launch into a sustainable operation remains to be seen, but for now, it’s capturing attention with a rare opportunity to fly on a superjumbo from the UK to the U.S.
