New budget airline promising cheap fares between UK and US forced to delay flights until next year
A NEW budget airline promising cheap long-haul flights has been forced to delay its launch date by a year.
Flights had initially been expected to take off this summer, but the carrier has now stated 2025 is its target instead.
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Global Airlines has claimed it will provide cheap routes from the UK to the US and recently acquired an Airbus A380, considered to be the world’s largest and most spacious passenger aircraft.
However, necessary work on the plane is not yet complete and will push the airline’s target back until next year.
Global first intends to refit the aircraft in its own style, while also carrying out essential maintenance needed for it to be able to serve passengers.
Once up in the air, the plane will take passengers from London to New York and Los Angeles, according to the airline’s start-up announcement.
For the time being, however, the plane will remain in Glasgow, where it is being prepared.
A spokesperson for the airline told aviation site Flight Global: ”[Operations] and maintenance timelines, like for any airline, have led us to reappraise when we’ll be operational,
“2025 is the target and we’re working with various partners to achieve this.
“The next stage of maintenance is due to commence in the coming weeks that will take the airline a step closer towards launching passenger flights next year.”
As well as cheap tickets, the airline has told passengers that they will “feel a million dollars” when flying on their planes.
The entrepreneur who launched the company, James Asquith, has previously promised a “return to the golden age of flying”.
He has also claimed there’ll be better food and drink on offer, as well as a more luxurious experience overall.
He told the Times last summer: “People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better.”
Part of the airline’s classier offering will include Laurent-Perrier champagne, even for those flying in economy.
Meanwhile, first-class ticket holders will be entitled to chauffeur-driven airport transfers and have a “proper social space” on board.
Airlines with the best plane food
Korean Air
Korean Air won best airline cuisine in last year’s Global Traveler’s awards.
Some of their popular dishes onboard include bibimbap, a Korean rice dish, and ssambap, Korean rice lettuce rolls.
It also made the top 10 for airlines with the best plane food in CN Travelers 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Japan Airlines
Coming in first place in the Reader’s Choice Awards was Japan Airlines.
The airline has partnered with six Michelin-star chefs, each of whom have three stars – so you can expect it to be good.
Passengers can choose bento boxes and miso soups onboard.
Singapore Airlines
Often voted one of the best airlines in the world, it is no surprising Singapore Airlines is said to have some of the best plane food.
Chef Dennis Littley said: “Their gourmet meals rival those of ground-based restaurants.”
Dishes include congee, a rice porridge, as well as Singaporean rice and curry options.
He continued: “Having a strong product in first class should filter down to economy, and make people in economy feel like a million dollars.”
Before anyone can fly on the planes, the airline will first need approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and an air operator certificate (AOC).
It will also need to satisfy the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US that it is a safe airline.
However, the airline remains confident, saying on its website that its ethos will “raise the bar in the world of aviation” and that passengers “will find it very hard to go back to anything else”.
Meanwhile, this budget airline is launching brand new flights to a lesser-visited European city.
And this brand new airline will also launch next year, with flights from the UK to the “next Dubai”.