Global Airlines responds to speculation about its future
June 3, 2025
Global Airlines has issued a public statement addressing recent commentary surrounding its early A380 flights, following the airline’s high-profile transatlantic debut over the past fortnight.
The airline, which made headlines after launching its first fare-paying passenger services in partnership with wet-lease specialist Hi Fly, has moved to clarify a number of points amid what it describes as a wave of speculation, misinformation, and online noise.
Notably, the airline said that it had no intention of fully pivoting into ACMI operations and that its long-term vision remained unchanged.
“Global owned A380 9H-GLOBL has flown fare-paying passengers transatlantic – this is a fact. Yes, with our operating partners at Hi Fly, but the first step towards the ultimate ambition has been achieved and nobody should underestimate this progress and the significance of those flights,” it stated.
“We’re not planning to change any strategy to become an ACMI operator – ACMI has always been part of our discussions with Hi Fly, but nothing has changed about our direction of travel and the vision and ambition we have for the future. We still have our eye on the ultimate goal of becoming a scheduled airline in the future, but we recognise there are still a lot of things to tackle on that journey.”
Addressing speculation over low passenger loads, Global said the inaugural flights were deliberately operated with limited capacity to focus on testing inflight service and premium product delivery.
“We had the perfect number of passengers on our flights to JFK – these flights were never planned to be full or even close to it,” the carrier said in a statement.
“That was not the point of them. We didn’t do any marketing, but simply reached out to our community online and in the wider aviation circles. We wanted to test our service and products and we wanted to focus on our premium cabins.
“We succeeded on all fronts and if we had more passengers we would never have got to test all the elements we wanted to try out. Perfect numbers for us!”
The airline also addressed online commentary around funding and strategic partnerships, stating that while it is engaged in conversations with multiple entities, it does not comment publicly on such matters.
“It’s interesting to see the speculation about who we are talking to about future funding. Of course we are talking to many different organisations and offices about this. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment on any of that and nobody would expect us to. However, important to remember that you should take anything you read with a pinch of salt, especially if there is no official quote from Global.”
Acknowledging teething issues during the first commercial flight, the airline offered a candid assessment of the logistical and operational challenges involved in returning an A380 to service and carrying passengers for the first time.
“Our first flight was a bit of a challenge – now, this one is true! It really was. Can you imagine bringing back an A380 from the desert, getting it through the most enormous amount of maintenance and regulatory requirements, dealing with a huge cabin overhaul, preparing for the first passengers, managing the catering and crew training, (and a million other things), and everything being perfect? Well, we were hopeful, but it just didn’t quite happen. We apologise to any of our passengers who didn’t have the best time – however, it is important to remember that many did have an amazing time and the feedback was incredible.”
The airline said subsequent flights showed significant improvement, with passenger reviews increasingly positive.
“It’s a shame that some of those who shouted loudest on the first flight did not join us on the second to witness the ‘1000000% improvement’, but we thank those who did for their transparent reviews and positive updates.”
In a bid to tackle online misinformation, Global Airlines announced plans to launch a “MythBusters” series in the coming weeks to address common misconceptions and share updates directly.
“We always have a good laugh at Global HQ when the latest missive gets posted, but to be honest, we would rather focus our energy and attention on the job in hand and delivering on the objectives that have been set.”
Closing the statement, the airline said it remained focused on long-term goals and committed to innovation in the sector, while encouraging those interested in the project to experience the product firsthand.
“Unless you were one of the lucky ones to already fly with us, the only way to really get to know us is to buy a ticket when we next sell them. Come and experience it for yourself, and then decide once and for all. The passenger feedback we are now getting is overwhelmingly positive, so we look forward to welcoming you onboard.”
