9H-GLOBL, the first A380 for UK long-haul startup Global Airlines, was today ferried to the Portuguese city of Beja from Dresden, where it had been undergoing heavy maintenance with EFW since October 2024.
The aircraft, which flew for China Southern Airlines for the first 9 years of its life, was bought by Global in early 2024 and placed on the AOC of operating partner HiFly Malta that February. It was ferried to Prestwick for onward storage in May 2024, where it remained until being flown to Dresden for a comprehensive base maintenance inspection by EFW.
EFW had ended A380 support during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Global’s “multi-million euro” contract being the MRO’s first customer for the type post-hiatus, though it has recently received a Qantas A380 for similar work.

Speaking in October, Global’s founder and CEO James Asquith said that, “Seeing 9H-GLOBL, our first Global Airlines A380, land in Dresden was fantastic. Working with our friends at EFW, we will now progress towards our first commercial flights next year. It is hard to put into words just how much work goes into getting a commercial aircraft back up into the sky, and the A380 is the biggest and most complex of them all.”
9H-GLOBL departed Dresden shortly before midday today, and would arrive at Beja at 14:20 following a celebratory low pass of the airport, where the aircraft is due to remain for 4 weeks for what Global has referred to as “final touches” before the airline begins revenue operations.
Global’s website was recently updated to include details of its first routes, which are as follows:
Paris to New York – February 2025
London to Brisbane – December 2025
London to Orlando – January to March 2025
London to Havana – February 2025
London to New York – 24 September 2025
London to Los Angeles – May 2025
Full details are available at globalairlines.com/adventure

Cianan Kelly is an aviation writer and, most importantly, enthusiast, with a passion for regional aviation and the essential connectivity it can create. He joined Fresh Aviation in late 2022 with the aim of contributing to high-quality aviation journalism and research.