Global Airlines' First A380 Flight: A Manchester to New York Review

Global Airlines Launches First A380 Flight from Manchester to New York: A Review Global Airlines made history on May 21st, 2025, with its inaugural flight from Manchester to New York's JFK airport, using a second-hand Airbus A380. The Manchester Evening News was onboard, providing a firsthand account of the experience. The airline, founded by businessman James Asquith in 2021, aims to recapture the 'Golden Age' of air travel. The pre-flight experience was noteworthy. Passengers received an email with practical information and a reminder to charge devices. Check-in featured banners for each class, and there was a "sparkly photo point" and branded cupcakes. "There was a real buzz among passengers," noted the reviewer. In business class, the seats were comfortable and spacious, though the reviewer noted a dated cabin with "old China Seven patterns still visible." The in-flight meal was a Global Traveller option: Caprese salad, herb chicken ballotine with carrots, spring onions, and crushed potatoes, and a citrus tart. The reviewer called the chicken "delicious." Other meal options included pan-fried sea bass and spiced white bean and aubergine cassoulet. The in-flight entertainment, accessed via personal devices, lacked the usual route information, but offered a selection of films and TV shows. The flight itself was smooth, and bags were returned promptly after passport control. The reviewer concluded that while the product felt incomplete, Global Airlines could be "the seed of something very exciting" in aviation. The return flight cost £697.28, including 10kg hand luggage and 23kg hold luggage.