Global Aviation Operations (Pty) Ltd t/a Global Airways and Lift is a South African airline headquartered in Johannesburg and based at OR Tambo International Airport.[1]

Global Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
GE
  • GBB
  • GBL
  • GLOBE
  • LITGLOBE
Founded2001
HubsOR Tambo International Airport
Subsidiaries
  • LIFT
  • UAB Global Airways
Fleet size11
HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
Key peopleQuentin Tomaselli, CEO
Websitewww.g-airways.com

History edit

Established in 2001 as Global Aviation Operations, the company created a "trading as" entity, Global Airways, to more properly reflect the nature of the business. The main business of Global Airways is the wet leasing (ACMI) of and operating of aircraft.[citation needed] Global Airways' main strategy is to offer fully crewed, maintained and insured aircraft (ACMI) to established airlines.

Global Airways’ aircraft are available for ACMI Leases, Ad hoc, and Charter. The prime focus being on wet lease ACMI contracts and retaining Operational Control thus maintaining Global Airway's high operational standards in the most cost-effective manner. The aircraft are also available on damp lease options subject to Global Airways’ operational and safety standards being met.

The Group's Aviation support services can provide an airline or client with aircraft, flight crew, cabin crew, base support staff, qualified flight dispatchers, aircraft maintenance and operational control. Additionally, Global Airways can train the foreign cabin crew of the client to the level of their crew. Global Airways believes in making partnerships with their clients to benefit both businesses to the fullest.

Historically Global Airways was a McDonnell Douglas fleet operator, which included narrow-body DC-9 and MD-82, and wide-body DC-10 types. These aircraft were phased out between 2010 and 2017, as the company's fleet renewal strategy was to introduce Airbus A320 and A340 aircraft into the operation.

The company has held EASA TCO approval (EASA Third Country Operator – ZAF-0013) since 2016 and continues to operate and maintain aircraft in full compliance with EASA standards, allowing them to operate freely within all EU territories.

Challenges experienced in the aviation industry caused by COVID-19 presented an opportunity for Global Airways to re-think the way airlines are structured and to gain access to infrastructure and talented‚ specialized people. The industry underwent a fundamental change and new business models emerged in the industry where stronger customer orientation and more competition evolved. With this in mind, Global Airways, trading under the name of LIFT, began domestic operations between Johannesburg and Cape Town and George in early December 2020 for the Southern Hemisphere summer season.

Fleet edit

Current fleet edit

 
Global Aviation McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 in special FIFA World Cup livery in 2009

As of September 2023, the Global Aviation fleet consists of the following aircraft:[2]

Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes Refs
C Y Total
Airbus A320-200 6 2 12 150 162 Operated for LIFT
2 180 180 LY- Registered. Operated by UAB Global Airways
Airbus A340-500 3 356 356 Stored
Total 11 2

Former fleet edit

The airline previously operated the following aircraft:[3]

Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Douglas DC-9-30 15 2003 2018
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 3 2006 2008
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F 1 2012 2013
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 2 2009 2017

References edit

  1. ^ ch-aviation.com - Global Aviation Operations retrieved 7 January 2016
  2. ^ "Login required". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ^ planespotters.net - Global Aviation retrieved 7 January 2016

External links edit

  Media related to Global Aviation at Wikimedia Commons