UK High Court Orders Global Airlines Into Liquidation

Global Airlines Ltd, the British startup that operated two round trips between Europe and New York in spring 2025, has been ordered into liquidation by the High Court of Justice in London. The winding-up order was made on Nov. 4, 2026, according to a notice published in The Gazette, the UK’s official public record.

The Court Order

A winding-up petition against Global Airlines Ltd was filed on May 29, 2026, by Jessica Huffman Reese, a U.S.-based creditor. It was the third petition against the company in just over a year. Earlier petitions, filed in August 2025 and March 2026, were both withdrawn. The May 2026 petition went to hearings on July 15 and September 2, 2026, before the court ruled against the airline, as reported by One Mile at a Time.

The Official Receiver, an officer of the UK’s Insolvency Service, was appointed as liquidator on Nov. 4. Under compulsory liquidation, control passes from the directors to the liquidator, who investigates the company’s affairs and the conduct of its directors, collects remaining assets, and pays creditors from the proceeds. Company bank accounts are usually frozen once such an order is made.

What Happens Next

Global Airlines has limited options to challenge the order. Under UK insolvency rules, a company can ask the court to rescind a winding-up order within 5 business days. That deadline came and went on Nov. 11, although a court can still hear a late request. The airline can also appeal, which typically must be filed within 21 days. Rescinding such an order is rare.

At the time of writing, neither Global Airlines nor founder James Asquith has said anything publicly about the ruling. Asquith had previously said the A380 would fly again before the end of 2026 and promised flights between the UK and the Maldives.

The Airline’s History

Global Airlines announced in July 2021 that James Asquith, founder of Holiday Swap, was launching the airline. In May 2023, it said it purchased its first A380, a former Singapore Airlines jet, from Doric Aviation. That plane never entered service. In February 2024, the carrier took full ownership of a different A380, the former China Southern jet MSN 120, registered as 9H-GLOBL.

In April 2025, tickets went on sale through a third-party travel agency for one-off charter round-trips from Glasgow and Manchester to New York (JFK). In May 2025, the first flight with paying passengers departed Glasgow for JFK, operated by Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly under a wet lease because Global Airlines did not have its own operating certificate. The second round-trip departed Manchester the same month.

The airline’s single A380 was placed in long-term storage at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in southern France on July 16, 2025, where it remains. The jet is overdue for its 12-year heavy maintenance check.

For Creditors and Travelers

One Mile at a Time did not report any outstanding passenger tickets. Travelers who paid Global Airlines for future travel or hold a voucher may be able to submit a claim in the liquidation. The Official Receiver handles creditor claims. Customers who paid by credit card can contact their card issuer to ask whether a chargeback or other protection applies. Travel insurance may also provide cover if it includes supplier failure.

Passengers considering a future flight on an A380 can still book with established operators including Emirates, British Airways, Qantas and Singapore Airlines; aircraft types and routes vary, so travelers should check the details of their booking.

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Sources

• deeparrival.com: Global Airlines Ordered Into Liquidation: What A380 Fans Can Do
• upgradedpoints.com: All-A380 Global Airlines Shutting Down After Court Order
• news.ssbcrack.com: Global Airlines Ordered Into Liquidation After Brief A380 Run - SSBCrack News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.