Several members of the aviation community were already preparing obituaries for the Airbus A380 during the dark days of the pandemic amid the global grounding of the superjumbo. At one point, there were just a handful, if any, A380s in the skies. However, the type has since made a comeback and is even set to be flying with a new airline soon.
High hopes
Global Airlines grabbed the headlines as the week started after the United Kingdom-based carrier announced that it had purchased an A380. That’s right - bought - not leased! While it seems like a significant risk to acquire such a behemoth during this sensitive climate of the air travel market, the startup is confident about soaring high with the aircraft.
It plans to conduct transatlantic service from London by the spring of next year. By deploying the A380 to the United States, it will be the first new airline to take on the type outright in eight years. All in all, there has been a positive twist of fate for the aircraft in recent months.
Global Airlines founder and chief executive James Asquith shared the following about his company's plans:
“Acquiring our aircraft rather than leasing showcases our commitment to financial security and resilience from day one."
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Against the grain
While Global Airlines didn't share how much the plane was purchased for, it noted that the unit is from German aircraft finance business Doric Aviation. It is believed to hold MSN 006. The next stage is to overhaul and refit the A380 to what the company calls its high specification. Overall, the firm is determined to provide passengers with “the best experience in the sky today.”
Sibylle Paehler, Managing Partner at Doric has since shared the following about the purchase:
"We are delighted to have worked with James and the team on the acquisition of their first Global Airlines aircraft. Contrary to popular belief, the A380 is widely recognised as the best way to fly, offering unparalleled comfort and features that lead to a unique travel experience. We are proud to have placed this beautiful modern aircraft with a new airline that will soon take to the skies. We are confident that Global Airlines will acquire more A380 aircraft in the near future."
It may be a brave move to entrust the A380 to kickstart operations in this era. After all, airlines have been phasing out the plane out in favor of more efficient and sustainable twinjet options. Even narrowbodies are increasing in popularity across the Atlantic Ocean, let alone quadjet widebodies.
Still, Global Airlines' leadership is no stranger to launching successful business models. Asquith is behind the travel brand Holiday Swap, which allows people to host or swap their homes seamlessly.
Thinking out of the box, he wants to continue innovating with his new carrier. In the past, there have been talks of the company introducing a "gamer class" along with business, premium, and economy. The initiative would see passengers pay a premium to play PlayStation and Xbox consoles on board. It could be a fun way to spend several hours in the air while hopping across the pond!
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Looking forward
There have been several new Europe-based carriers announced in recent years, all with ambitious plans to bring new opportunities for long-haul travel. Several have yet to actually come to fruition, while others have at least got the ball rolling.
The transatlantic market will really have it all after Global Airlines commences flights. We have full-service UK airlines in the form of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic; legacy carriers in American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines; hybrid game-changers with JetBlue; and low-cost carriers such as Norse Atlantic. A startup A380 operator with a gamer class will put another spanner in the works!
What are your thoughts about Global Airlines and its prospective operations with the Airbus A380? What do you make of the overall plans of the carrier? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Source: The Independent; One Mile At A Time