Global Airlines – live: Simon Calder rides new airline’s first transatlantic flight to New York

The airline bidding to revolutionise transatlantic travel has taken off for its maiden flight from Glasgow to New York JFK

May 15, 2025 - 21:01

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Global Airlines – live: Simon Calder rides new airline’s first transatlantic flight to New York

The flight was due to leave at 11am, but was pushed back 13 minutes late, and along with further delay on the taxiway, the Airbus A380 took off over half an hour behind schedule. But thanks to a fast flight time, it is expected to arrive on schedule in New York at 1pm.

The founder, businessman James Asquith, has pledged to “take passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, reinvigorating the onboard experience with elevated service” between the UK and US.

Asquith, 36, promises a new era of flying, saying: “People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better.”

But not everyone agrees that a newcomer flying a very large aircraft in a very crowded market is what the world needs. Global Airlines owns the double-deck A380 – the world’s largest passenger plane – across the North Atlantic.

Initially return economy fares were set at nearly £800 – but with slow sales, prices have been more than halved. Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent at The Independent, bought a ticket for the inaugural departure (at the higher price) and has been reporting from Glasgow Airport.

What's on the menu?

The drinks menu aboard the A380, now en route to New York after departing at 11.34am.

Drinks menu aboard the inaugural Global Airlines flight

Drinks menu aboard the inaugural Global Airlines flight (Simon Calder)

Simon Calder15 May 2025 15:30

'Everyone said it was impossible' CEO said before first flight

Ahead of the launch, founder and chief executive James Asquith said the process has been “massively challenging”, but they have continued to hit every milestone.

Speaking to The Independent in April, with over a month and a half to go before the inaugural flight, Mr Asquith said: “I’m feeling good. It’s been a long road to get here.

“It’s those crazy kind of last couple of days and weeks looking to enter into service and it has certainly not been easy.

“We knew it would be massively challenging. But we persevered and here we are.

“No one’s done this before,” he said. “When’s the last time a new airline’s come to the market that said. ‘We’re leading with a product’?

“No one’s started an airline by owning their aircraft and having the largest aircraft in the world.

“Everyone said it was impossible. We’ve done every milestone that people said was impossible.”

Read more below:

Amelia Neath15 May 2025 15:00

Where is the flight right now?

Flight 3L380 / HFM380 left Glasgow Airport at 11.34am, and has since made its way out over the Atlantic, tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows.

(FlightRadar24)

Amelia Neath15 May 2025 14:37

Crew ahead of take off

The Global Airlines’ crew at Glasgow ahead of take-off.

The flight departed at 11.34am, and is expected to arrive on schedule at 1pm EDT in New York.

Amelia Neath15 May 2025 14:30

Global Airlines' future plans? "Who knows?"

During an interview with Talk ahead of the flight this morning, James Asquith, CEO and founder of Global Airlines, spoke to Simon Calder about the mood in the room ahead of the inaugural flight.

“I'm feeling great. I think a lot of positivity since, well, you didn't believe this would happen. So here we are,” he told Simon.

When asked what the plans are after the first two journeys from Glasgow today, and another set for 21 May from Manchester to New York, Mr Asquith replied: “Who knows?”

“Who knows what happens tomorrow? Who knows? We'll see.

“Look, everyone said we won't get this far right, including yourself. So let's see.”

“I think we've been pretty open, transparent with the journey, the difficulties, the problems, the challenges, so now we'll see what happens next.

“Maybe we'll turn the aircraft into a spa next,” he joked.

(Left to Right) Mike Graham, James Asquith, Simon Calder during an interview with Talk at Glasgow Airport

(Left to Right) Mike Graham, James Asquith, Simon Calder during an interview with Talk at Glasgow Airport (TalkTV)

Amelia Neath15 May 2025 14:00

Inside the Global Airlines' 'Sky Pub'

Ahead of the departure, CEO and founder of Global Airlines, James Asquith, has been taking to social media to show the aircraft’s very own ‘pub’ in the sky.

“A fun idea that we came up with, and this is, in my opinion the best thing about the extra space that the A380 affords you,” Mr Asquith wrote on 20 April.

“We will certainly add more as we go, but for anyone that is familiar with Major Mods on an aircraft, you’re looking at many years to certify bigger social spaces and bars, so we will develop our social spaces even more when we have more aircraft in the sky…it’s all bit by bit progression .”

Amelia Neath15 May 2025 13:30