Global Airlines ordered to wind up by UK court

British startup airline Global Airlines has been placed into compulsory liquidation by the UK's Insolvency and Companies Court.

The Gazette, the UK's official public record, published a notice on 12 November 2026, confirming that the High Court of Justice had issued a winding-up order against Global Airlines Ltd on 4 November 2026, following a petition filed on 29 May 2026.

Founded in 2021 by James Asquith, Global Airlines planned to acquire a fleet of four Airbus A380 aircraft. The airline purchased its first aircraft in May 2023, an A380 (MSN 120) previously operated by China Southern Airlines. The aircraft was registered as 9H-GLOBL.

The airline focused on the transatlantic market. In May 2025, its former China Southern Airlines A380 operated Global Airlines' first passenger flights between Glasgow, Manchester and New York under a wet-lease arrangement with Hi Fly Malta. The aircraft was subsequently withdrawn from service for scheduled heavy maintenance and has remained out of operation.

Media reports in July this year suggested that Global Airlines planned to operate its Airbus A380 to the Maldives before Christmas, marking a shift from its original focus on transatlantic services to destinations such as New York and Los Angeles. The airline operated just four passenger flights before ceasing operations.

Global Airlines never obtained its own UK Air Operator Certificate (AOC), which it would have needed to operate commercial flights independently.

9H-GLOBL, the airline's sole Airbus A380, is currently parked at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in southern France, where it has remained since 16 July 2025.

Under UK government guidelines, a company's bank accounts will usually be frozen after a winding-up order is issued, while its assets and property may be sold by the Official Receiver to repay creditors.

A company can apply to have a winding-up order cancelled if it believes it does not need to pay its creditors. The application must be made within five working days of the order being issued.

Global Airlines is still listed as an active company on the Companies House website. However, its latest accounts filing is marked as overdue, according to AeroTime.