It’s the new airline whose mission is to take passengers “back to the golden age of travel”, and this week it took a big step forward with its Airbus A380 landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Global Airlinesfounded in 2021 by Briton James Asquith, who also set up travel company Holiday Swap, hailed the arrival of its superjumbo in Scotland as a “momentous moment”, which “signaled that an important milestone had been reached”.
Ian Forgie, chief executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “We are delighted to have supported Global at this key stage of their 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. It attracted a large crowd of aviation enthusiasts who wanted to witness the landing.
The A380, registration number 9H-GLOBL, arrived in Glasgow from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California after two months of technical and engineering evaluations. During this time, the crew received personalized simulator training.
Global Airlines’ A380 (above) landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport this week, a milestone for the new airline. And it was the first visit of a superjumbo to the airport.
Ian Forgie, chief executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “We are delighted to have supported Global at this key stage of their exciting journey.”
On Tuesday, April 30, the aircraft, led by Commander Carlos Mirpuri and a crew of three, flew for five hours and 40 minutes to Montreal’s Mirabel International Airport, where it refueled.
The plane then crossed the Atlantic and headed straight to Glasgow Prestwick.
The flight itself generated significant local and online attention and was the most viewed flight of the day on Wednesday on Flight Radar, Global Airlines said, with nearly 40,000 viewers at its peak.
The flight generated significant online attention and was the most viewed flight of the day on Wednesday on Flight Radar, Global Airlines said, with nearly 40,000 viewers at its peak. In the photo, the plane landing in Glasgow Prestwick.
Global Airlines A380 takes to the skies at Mojave Air and Space Port
Speaking for the first time since the plane’s arrival 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 of our brilliant global team, we now have our first plane in Europe and we are in a position and a place where we can advance even further.
‘Arriving in Europe is a major milestone for Global Airlines and is the product of enormous amounts of energy, determination and faith in the project, on both sides of the Atlantic.
‘I am especially 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 on the A380.
“Looking ahead, everyone on the team is moving towards a very busy summer where we will begin to increasingly showcase the global offering and innovations that will make our airline unique.”
Commander Carlos Mirpuri, vice president of the Hi Fly group and chief pilot of the flights, said after arriving in Prestwick: “This plane is a marvel of engineering and I never tire of looking at it. It was a long trip across America and the Atlantic, and everything went as expected.
‘I wish success to Global Airlines. It is time to carry out the rest of the work back into service so that passengers can enjoy flying this superjumbo. There is nothing like that.’