Global Airlines (London City) has deferred its launch to 2025 and partnered with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a tech-focused law firm, as a strategic legal advisor to support its investment strategy and capital raises.
The UK start-up, which aims to fly A380-800s on transatlantic routes, said the delay was due to "operations and maintenance timelines", and stressed that it too has been affected by the same pressures impacting the whole sector. Global Airlines has already delayed its launch once from the first half of 2024 to the end of the year.
Global Airlines said it is continuously working towards launching, with the next steps poised to be the hiring of key senior roles, investing in the return to service of its first owned A380, 9H-GLOBL (msn 120), while working on acquiring more of the type.
9H-GLOBL was ferried from Mojave via Montréal Mirabel to Glasgow Prestwick on April 30-May 1, 2024. It remains at the Scottish gateway, awaiting maintenance and repainting. The next stage of cabin outfitting is due to start "in the coming weeks".
"Since our flight across the Atlantic, appetite from large funds and institutional investors has never been higher and Orrick is well placed to support us as we build for the future," CEO James Asquith claimed.
Global Airlines has contracted Hi Fly (5K, Beja) as its technical partner, the world's only airline with experience in inducting a second-hand A380. 9H-GLOBL was ferried in by Hi Fly pilots.
