The first Airbus A380 of British startup Global Airlines landed at Prestwick Airport, Scotland on Wednesday.
The Superjumbo, registration 9H-GLOBL, had been stored at Mojave Air and Space Port since December 2022. The 11.5-year-old machine performed its last commercial flight for China Southern Airlines in February 2020. In January, Global Airlines became the new owner of the aircraft. The past few months have been all about making the Airbus airworthy, followed by several test flights.
The journey to Europe started on April 30. The A380 then departed from Mojave to Montreal–Mirabel International Airport. The Superjumbo spent the night there and was refueled for the next flight. The aircraft arrived at Prestwick Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The flight was not only a first for Global Airlines, but also for the Scottish airport, where an A380 has never landed before. Spotters noticed upon arrival that the undercarriage of the machine remained unfolded during the flight. It may need to be replaced after the long storage period.
GlobalAirlines
Global Airlines originally wanted to offer flights between London and the United States from the spring of 2024. The fleet currently consists of four Airbus A380s. A remarkable decision given the fact that many airlines, with the exception of Emirates and Qatar, are gradually phasing out their Superjumbos. Lufthansa also still flies the A380s, but has already removed some from its fleet. Global Airlines doesn’t have to think about that yet. “With the purchase of these aircraft, the airline’s fleet development reaches a new milestone with four A380s that will enter service in the spring of 2024,” the newcomer said last year. In the coming years, Global Airlines will be assisted by two consultants who will sit on the advisory board. The first is Pierre Madrange, former French Air Force fighter pilot and Chief of Operations at XL Airways; the second is Ian Black, former captain of the Airbus A340 and Boeing 787, among others.
