You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But, as a startup airline, apparently it is possible to get a second chance to purchase your first airplane. That is the case with Global Airlines, the UK-based startup promising a fleet of A380s to crisscross the world.
The company announced last week it has closed on the acquisition of its first A380, seven months after first announcing it had acquired its first A380. And, to be clear, the announcements are about different planes.
The actual first A380 acquired
This month’s deal covers MSN 120, previously operated by China Southern. The aircraft is registered (9H-GLOBL) in Malta via the company’s partnership with Hi Fly. That deal covers retrofit and maintenance, not operating the aircraft in passenger service. Though there are also reports Hi Fly will now operate the plane for Global.
In a post on X/Twitter, CEO James Asquith notes, “Some things take a little longer to do when you have full asset ownership, but we are convinced this will set Global up well in the long run.”
Asked to clarify what took longer, Global’s International Corporate Affairs Director Liam McKay explains, “Acquiring any aircraft from the secondary market requires rigorous assessment, testing and investment in the aircraft. Typically, much of this would be done by the lessor, but it is our responsibility when taking title of the aircraft. We have completed a huge amount of work on MSN 120 and have completed a significant amount of tasks required by Airbus.”
The company does note, however, that the necessary work is not quite complete. Once the remaining steps are completed expect to see the aircraft move to Europe where the retrofit work will commence.
What about the first first A380 acquisition?
The June 2023 announcement covered the purchase of MSN 006 from Doric Aviation. At the time both Global Airlines and Doric indicated the deal was an “acquisition” that had closed. In a statement this week, however, McKay shares, “Global and Doric are continuing to work together to close out the transaction.”
It appears the companies overplayed their position last June.
It is unfortunate that they chose to mislead the public at that time. Unfortunately, it is in line with other statements made by Global (and Holiday Swap, Asquith’s other company that is supposedly helping to get Global launched) over the past few years. When faced with previous rounds of false statements about partnerships and progress McKay suggested “things, and the world, have moved on.”
That would be easier to stomach if Global’s willingness to occasionally stretch the truth also changed.
Making MSN 120 work
So, why the shift from MSN 006 to MSN 120? The company provided no details, other than to say, “For a variety of reasons, MSN 120 was the aircraft that we, with assistance from Hi Fly and other industry partners, identified as the aircraft we should prioritise.”
Perhaps Global realized the cabin retrofit work required would be too great on 006 given the older seats on board that can no longer be used in commercial aircraft due to fraudulent safety testing by the original manufacturer. Or maybe the cabin layout of MSN 120 (8F, 70J, 238Y 428Y) is more in line with Global’s plans for its cabin layout.
Given that the company plans only to refurbish its first plane(s) – a complete interior overhaul is promised for later aircraft – it makes sense to choose the one more likely to fly with minimal work required.
Moving forward
Make no mistake: Acquiring an A380 is a big deal. It gives Global a path – a long, winding, complicated path – towards launching service. Almost certainly not this year, if it wants CAA certification as a new airline. But the path is there.
Just how long it takes, and how many more surprise twists are encountered, remains to be seen.
More on Global Airlines' meandering path towards becoming a real airline
- Global Airlines pitch deck delivers questionable claims, fuzzy financials in advance of A380 fleet launch
- Global Airlines’ questionable partnership claims continue
- Global Airlines taps Hi Fly for A380 maintenance and retrofit
- Holiday Swap’s property listings raise questions
- Global Airlines buys its first A380 – again
- Global Airlines ferries its A380 to the UK
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Romain says
MSN 120 is Y428 and not Y238.
I also assume that the few tons less on MSN 120 compare to MSN 6 are a big deal for consumption.
Seth Miller says
Oops…definitely a typo on the Y238 rather than Y428.
And I’m sure the fuel efficiency helps a bit. But not needing to replace the seats is almost certainly a bigger initial CapEx savings driving the decision.