It’s the brand new airline whose mission is to return passengers to “the golden age of travel” – and this week it took a big step forward, with its Airbus A380 landing at the Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Global Airlines, founded in 2021 by Briton James Asquith, who also created the travel company Holiday Swap, hailed the arrival of its superjumbo in Scotland as a “momentous moment”, which “signals that an important milestone has been reached “.
Ian Forgie, CEO of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “We are delighted to have supported Global on this key stage of its exciting journey.
“It was also the first time an A380 had landed at Prestwick, so it was an exciting moment in Prestwick’s aviation history. This attracted a large crowd of aviation enthusiasts who wanted to witness the landing.
The A380, registered 9H-GLOBL, arrived in Glasgow from Mojave Air and Space Port in California following two months of technical and technical assessments. During this time, the crew received tailor-made simulator training.
Global Airlines’ A380 (above) landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport this week – a significant milestone for the new carrier. And it was the first ever visit of a superjumbo to the airport
Ian Forgie, CEO of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “We are delighted to have supported Global on this key stage of its exciting journey. »
On Tuesday, April 30, the plane, led by Commander Carlos Mirpuri and a crew of three, flew five hours and 40 minutes to Montreal Mirabel International Airport, where it refueled.
The plane then crossed the Atlantic, directly to Glasgow Prestwick.
The flight itself generated significant local and online attention and was the most-watched flight of the day Wednesday on Flight Radar, Global Airlines claimed, with nearly 40,000 viewers at its peak.
The flight generated significant attention online and was the most-watched flight of the day Wednesday on Flight Radar, Global Airlines claimed, with nearly 40,000 viewers at its peak. Pictured is the plane landing at Glasgow Prestwick
Global Airlines A380 takes flight from Mojave Air and Space Port
Speaking for the first time since the plane arrived in Scotland, Mr Asquith said: “There were times when I thought the plane would not make it out of America, but thanks to the incredible efforts from our brilliant global team, we now have our first aircraft in Europe and we are in a position and location where we can go even further.
“Arriving in Europe is a significant milestone for Global Airlines and is the product of enormous amounts of energy, determination and confidence in the project, on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I am particularly grateful to the team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport for welcoming 9H-GLOBL with such enthusiasm. I am very pleased that we now have the opportunity to work with industry leaders in the UK to develop new capabilities and expertise for the A380.
“Looking ahead, everyone on the team is preparing for a very busy summer in which we will begin to introduce more and more global offerings and innovations that will make our airline unique.”
Commander Carlos Mirpuri, vice-president of Hi Fly Group, who was the flights’ chief pilot, said after arriving at Prestwick: “This aircraft is an engineering marvel and I can’t get enough of it. It was a long journey across America and the Atlantic, and everything went according to plan.
“I wish Global Airlines success. It is time to carry out the rest of the work to return it to service so that passengers can enjoy the flight of this superjumbo. There is no such thing.’
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