Global Airlines Is Liquidating. At Least It Tried?

Global Airlines, the UK startup built around a single Airbus A380, is being liquidated.

A UK High Court judge issued a winding-up order against the company on Nov. 4, according to a London Gazette notice published today. The petition was filed in May. The government's Official Receiver is now the liquidator, so founder James Asquith and the other directors no longer control the company.

Global Airlines flew only a handful of passenger flights. In spring 2025, it operated a few transatlantic trips to New York, including its first from Scotland. Because it never got its own operating certificate, those flights ran under a wet lease with Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly.

Its sole A380 has been parked in France since mid-2025, waiting on heavy maintenance that costs millions. Asquith blamed industry maintenance backlogs for the delay, and as recently as this fall, he said the airline would fly between the UK and the Maldives before the end of 2026.

Andrew's Take

I was hoping Global Airlines would pan out, since I'd love to see another A380 flying passengers. But the plane's economics don't make that possible: four engines, hundreds of seats to fill on every flight, and no backup aircraft when it needs maintenance. Airlines with far deeper pockets have spent years retiring the A380 for exactly those reasons.