Global Airlines denies plans to operate only charter flights
Global Airlines has gone public to dispute articles that claimed that the airline plans to change its focus, leaving scheduled flights to offer ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) services.
According to the new British carrier, “we still have our eye on the ultimate goal of becoming a scheduled airline in the future,” but it acknowledged that the path to getting there is still a long way off.
“We’re not planning to change any strategy to become an ACMI operator – ACMI has always been part of our discussions with Hi Fly, but nothing has changed about our direction of travel and the vision and ambition we have for the future,” the company explained in an article posted on Linkedin.
An article published in Saudi Arabia and reported by several outlets, including ADN, claimed that Global was close to gaining a new partner, Kingdom Holdings.
The Saudi group’s investment would allow Global Airlines to acquire three more Airbus A380s to form a fleet of aircraft dedicated to wet leasing.
Global, however, admitted that it is in negotiations with several organizations, from partners in finance to maintenance.
Initial flights
Global completed four test flights in May, between Glasgow and New York and between Manchester and the same US city.
Using its only A380 to date (registration 9H-GLOBL), the airline sold special tickets after a quick and discreet campaign.
According to the airline, the aim was to test its services and products and not to fill the widebody, which has a capacity for 506 passengers.
The first flight, between Glasgow and John F. Kennedy Airport, however, was ‘turbulent’. “Our first flight was a bit of a challenge – now, this one is true! It really was,” said the company, which apologized for the experience.
The company did not describe the issues that affected the inaugural flight, but noted that the following ones were “incredible.” Finally, Global Airlines promised updates soon and that it will “bring something new to aviation.”
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
