Global Airlines Partners With JETMS For A380 Cabin Retrofits

Global Airlines acquired its first Airbus A380 aircraft earlier this year.

Credit: Global Airlines

Aircraft interior and exterior completions company JETMS Completions will commence a cabin refurbishment and overhaul program for UK-based start-up carrier Global Airlines’ incoming fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

The interiors program—a multi-aircraft deal—is scheduled to begin in January 2024 once the first A380 completes its return to service maintenance checks. In total, the proposed airline has orders in place for four A380s and plans to commence flights next spring.

The first superjumbo acquired from Doric Aviation earlier this year is scheduled to arrive in Europe before the end of 2023 and will undergo cabin refurbishment work the following month. The next three aircraft scheduled for operation by Global Airlines will undergo full cabin overhauls later in 2024.

JETMS, a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, says the project for the fledgling airline will be its largest to date and the first on an A380 aircraft. The company operates from a facility at London Biggin Hill Airport after the acquisition of RAS Completions in 2021. Most of its work is related to private jets refurbishments.

Gegams Hanamirjans, CEO of parent group JETMS Holdings, says the company is currently working to get everything ready across its supply chain in preparation for the first aircraft refurbishment. Hanamirjans says the company’s recent acquisition of Waypoint Aerotec, a UK-based design specialist, has granted it UK CAA Part 21J approval. “This certification is a valuable add-on to its existing design and production capabilities and qualifies the company to provide design solutions,” he says.

Founded by British entrepreneur James Asquith in 2021, Global Airlines plans to launch services in 2024 and will operate transatlantic routes from London to New York and Los Angeles. To date, the carrier has not announced any slots at British airports.

“We have deliberately cast the net wide when looking for partners,” Asquith says. “JETMS Completions are known throughout the private aviation world for the amazing work they do on a range of aircraft. And after speaking with Gegams and his team, it was clear that JETMS believed they could introduce standards and finishes from private into commercial aviation.”

Following the JETMS announcement, Asquith says the carrier has several new partnerships set to be announced over the next few weeks. Another recently announced partnership is a cooperation with former A380 operator HiFly. The Portuguese airline was the first secondary operator of an A380 and will work on the development and maintenance of the four A380s as they return to service and enter the Global Airlines fleet.

James Pozzi

As Aviation Week's MRO Editor EMEA, James Pozzi covers the latest industry news from the European region and beyond. He also writes in-depth features on the commercial aftermarket for Inside MRO.