Global Airlines collapses into liquidation after failed A380 launch

British aviation start-up Global Airlines has been placed into compulsory liquidation by the High Court, bringing an end to its ambitious plans to launch a new transatlantic airline built around the Airbus A380.

The winding-up order was made on 4 November 2026 and subsequently published in The London Gazette on 12 November. The case concerns Global Airlines Ltd, company number 13508008, with the liquidation process now under way.

Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur James Asquith, Global Airlines attracted considerable attention with its ambition to establish a premium long-haul airline operating a fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft. The company planned to offer passengers an alternative to established transatlantic carriers, with a product centred around the double-deck aircraft.

However, despite years of promotion and investment in the project, the airline never progressed to operating a regular scheduled passenger service.

Glasgow Airport played a part in the company’s brief operational history. In May 2025, Global Airlines operated its first passenger service from Glasgow to New York JFK, followed by a return flight. A second return programme was operated between Manchester and New York later that month.

The flights were operated by Hi Fly Malta on behalf of Global Airlines, rather than using Global’s own operating certificate. They were special one-off services and did not mark the beginning of a regular Glasgow–New York route.

The aircraft at the centre of the project was Airbus A380 registration 9H-GLOBL, a former China Southern aircraft. It was acquired by the company in 2024 and became the centrepiece of its proposed fleet.

However, the aircraft was moved into storage at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in France in July 2025, where it has remained. It required substantial maintenance work before it could return to commercial service, creating another major challenge for the start-up.

Despite the prolonged inactivity, founder James Asquith continued to discuss plans to return the aircraft to service. In 2026, he spoke about bringing the A380 back into operation before the end of the year, with ambitions to acquire a second aircraft and introduce additional destinations, including the Maldives.

Those plans now appear unlikely to progress following the court’s winding-up order.

The liquidation followed a petition filed on 29 May 2026. Earlier winding-up petitions against the company had reportedly been withdrawn, but the latest proceedings resulted in the High Court ordering the company to be wound up.

The liquidator is now responsible for dealing with the company’s remaining affairs and assets, including the future of its Airbus A380. The aircraft’s eventual fate remains uncertain, and there has been no confirmed announcement that it has been sold or will be dismantled.

The liquidation also marks the end of one of the more unusual airline start-up projects in recent British aviation history. Global Airlines generated considerable interest through its plans to revive the A380 as the foundation of a new long-haul operator, but ultimately failed to establish the fleet and regular operations needed to turn that ambition into a functioning airline.

The focus now turns to the liquidation process, the company’s remaining assets and the future of the A380 that was supposed to form the foundation of Global Airlines.