International Airways launched in 2021 and has been dubbed the ‘Superjumbo’ airline
Photos from the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on Wednesday, Could 21, 2025 (Picture: Liv Clarke)
In the event you’ve jetted off from Manchester Airport to New York, chances are high you probably did so aboard Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic, or perhaps you took a British Airways flight with a stopover in London. Now, there’s an up-and-comer able to disrupt the transatlantic journey sport, promising a revival of the ‘Golden Age’ of aviation.
International Airways, an bold new participant, has emerged to problem the dominance of established carriers by deploying the colossal “Superjumbo” Airbus A380.
Established in 2021 by entrepreneurial mogul James Asquith, International Airways snagged a pre-loved 12 12 months outdated A380 in Could 2023 that had previously seen service with China Southern. Asquith, a ‘multimillionaire’ who minimize his enamel within the journey business with Vacation Swap – a competitor to Airbnb – can also be identified for setting a Guinness World Document because the youngest man to step foot in each nation on earth.
Asquith has declared that beginning up his personal airline has been a lifelong ambition, however the query stays: can this dream be efficiently realised?
The technique consists of radically overhauling the jumbo jet by providing 5 distinct journey courses, establishing an onboard ‘gaming’ cabin, stirring up pleasure with a energetic bar space, and introducing a novel class that strikes a steadiness between enterprise and premium economic system consolation, experiences the Manchester Night Information.
This imaginative and prescient additionally intends to provide travellers the more and more uncommon likelihood to fly on a four-engine double-decker plane, an idea different airways shrink back from in favour of smaller, less complicated planes. Notably, Emirates continues to function three day by day A380 flights out of Manchester, sustaining its stake within the A380 area.
On Could 15, the inaugural International Airways flight, operated by Hello Fly, took off from Glasgow to New York JFK and obtained a combined response. The much-anticipated ‘gamer cabin’ was nowhere to be seen, and the plane retained a robust China Southern vibe.
Youtuber Josh Cahill did not mince phrases together with his assessment titled: “International Airways STRANGE First Flight and it was VERY BAD!” He concluded that the airline’s guarantees fell wanting actuality. Nevertheless, Simon Calder from The Unbiased had a unique take, describing the journey as a “very snug flight” and a “fascinating occasion”.
Regardless of its bold title, International Airways is not truly an airline and lacks an working licence. It operates beneath the wing of Portuguese provider Hello Fly, whereas Travelopedia handles the ticket gross sales.
I joined the second International Airways flight on Could 21 from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, and it was an expertise I will not quickly neglect. The thrill across the flight was electrical, from check-in to the take-off watched by keen airplane spotters alongside the airport’s perimeter.
The sense of being a part of one thing distinctive was plain. Nonetheless, because the flight progressed, it grew to become clear that the International Airways providing remains to be very a lot a piece in progress.
Regardless of the presence of branded headrest covers, vainness kits, and flight menus, it was unimaginable to disregard the truth that the plane was exhibiting its 12 years of age.
Take away the logos from most main airways, and also you’d nonetheless have a way of the model’s id. Nevertheless, take away the International Airways logos, and you would be hard-pressed to establish the airline – a regarding side, particularly when buyer belief in manufacturers is essential.
However, flying on an Airbus A380 was an thrilling expertise. A lot of my fellow passengers, together with a number of YouTubers, had been thrilled to be on board, with cameras popping up in all places to seize the second.
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Photos from the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on Wednesday, Could 21, 2025 (Picture: Liv Clarke)
Notable YouTubers, resembling husband-and-wife duo Kara and Nate, with 4.2 million subscribers, and one other creator who had travelled from Melbourne, Australia, had been amongst these documenting their expertise.
Here is my account of the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK.
Photos from the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on Wednesday, Could 21, 2025 (Picture: Liv Clarke)
Asquith himself made an look, accompanied by a gaggle of individuals, however with none fanfare. In the event you did not recognise his face, you would not realize it was him – no grandstanding right here.
First-class passengers had been, naturally, referred to as up first, partially filling the bus that may transport them to the plane.
The remainder of us had been then ushered on, though when my boarding ticket was checked I used to be advised it wanted to be altered and obtained a premium ticket – there was no point out of an ‘improve’, merely that I had been issued the inaccurate ticket at test in.
We sped throughout the apron in the direction of the airplane, which bore the International Airways livery, its colossal dimension actually changing into obvious. It was certainly a behemoth of a airplane – genuinely large.
Even the bottom workers appeared thrilled about it. We ascended the steps to the decrease deck, and ventured inside.
We had been guided upstairs, passing by the primary class cabin en route, earlier than I settled into my seat in enterprise class.
Take off and settling in:
The flight was scheduled to depart at 12.25pm, by 12.45pm we had been taxiing to the runway, and following a clean take off – noticed by dozens of airplane spotters – we had been airborne by 1pm, with the pilot informing us that the flight would final six hours and half-hour.
My enterprise class cabin was barely 1 / 4 full, not like some other flight I’ve skilled. The format is such that there are 4 seats throughout – one at every window and two within the center.
Every has a aspect desk, a display straight in entrance of the seat and a foot relaxation which comes into use whenever you recline the seat into the flat place.
The foot relaxation additionally has a handy storage part on your footwear or bag. There is a tray desk that may be pulled out for eating, and ample storage on your books, telephones and extra beside the seat.
My seat was ready with a certificates for the maiden voyage, a menu, a bookmark bearing a message from Asquith, a blanket, a cushion and a conceit package. The vainness package was housed in a chic leather-based pockets with a zipper, containing socks, a watch masks, ear plugs and a dental package, together with a pen.
It was passable however not too completely different from a Turkish Airways economic system package I lately acquired – which even included slippers.
The seat was undoubtedly snug and roomy; having the aspect desk was a big benefit. Nevertheless, it appeared worn and outdated; I noticed a number of scuffs and stains, and once I absolutely reclined my seat, what appeared like tea or espresso stains had been seen on the plastic again of the seat.
It was evident the place outdated stickers had been peeled off, and new ones had been masking up the outdated ones. Patterns from China Southern had been nonetheless noticeable and total, it felt considerably shabby.
Clearly, this wasn’t what International Airline’s had envisioned.
Foods and drinks:
My menu was the International Traveller possibility, which presumably meant I used to be receiving the economic system meal while seated in enterprise class, not remarkable in case you’re upgraded on the final minute however nonetheless barely odd. It acknowledged that we might be provided a number of drinks together with Laurent Perrier Champagne, advantageous wines, spirits and beers, mushy drinks and juices, and snacks.
I anticipated a spherical of drinks earlier than the meal, however none was forthcoming, though it was intriguing to notice that a number of passengers close to the entrance had been being served. It grew to become evident all through the flight that they had been having fun with the genuine enterprise expertise, whereas I and different close by passengers weren’t.
After an inexpensive wait, lunch was served: a starter of caprese salad, a fundamental course selection of herbed rooster ballantine, pan-fried sea bass or spiced white bean and aubergine cassolette, and a citrus tart for dessert.
I opted for the rooster, which was pleasant, accompanied by carrots, spring onion, and crushed potatoes with gravy. The salad was flavoursome, full with a captivating miniature bottle of dressing, whereas the tart was distinctive, providing a refreshing tanginess and lightness.
Nevertheless, the bread roll was not served heat, as is customary on flights, rendering it slightly chewy. There was additionally no salt and pepper, or moist wipe supplied with the cutlery.
We had been provided a drink, however there was no signal of the champagne, so I chosen white wine. The meal was passable, nevertheless it lacked refinement.
I used to be knowledgeable that through the Glasgow flight there was a delay in loading the meals, leading to prolonged waits for passengers, though this was not the case on our flight.
About an hour later, the crew got here round providing snacks resembling crisps, olives and sweets, together with a drink. This time I requested champagne and certainly obtained it, accompanied by some salted Kettle chips.
Our menu additionally had an ‘a la carte’ part which included two forms of afternoon tea, one for meat-eaters and one vegetarian. Roughly 90 minutes earlier than we had been as a result of land the crew got here spherical asking if we needed something – however did not explicitly say ‘would you just like the afternoon tea’, it was solely by me pushing for extra info that they mentioned the afternoon tea was accessible.
I feared a bout of turbulence would threaten its arrival, nevertheless it safely appeared, though the sandwiches had been a combination from each the choices and the scones had been lacking. It was scrumptious although and stuffed a gap – I used to be simply glad I had the initiative to push for it.
In flight leisure:
Photos from the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on Wednesday, Could 21, 2025 (Picture: Liv Clarke)
Inflight leisure, significantly in case you’re not going to supply wifi, is vital on an extended haul flight. Throughout most main airways it is gone from energy to energy and infrequently it is an opportunity to make amends for new releases you could have missed within the cinema.
So to be advised the screens would not be engaged on board was an enormous disappointment for me, significantly as I did not have a pill laptop. I knew I wasn’t going to hassle watching something however out of curiosity I scanned the QR code which related me to the International Instances community.
The choice to view the flight route was accessible, albeit in a rudimentary method: it lacked particulars resembling departure time, arrival time, floor pace – basically all the usual info sometimes offered on flights. I believe my family and friends on the bottom had extra perception into my flight than I did while airborne.
Just a few movies had been on supply, together with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Barbie and Tornado, together with a number of others unfamiliar to me. There was a class labelled ‘Europeen’ – misspelled, and solely a handful of TV exhibits, surprisingly together with the Recent Prince of Bel Air.
I opted to stay with my magazines and podcasts, typically catching my blurred reflection within the redundant display reverse me.
The service:
The airplane was staffed by a Hello Fly crew, although I used to be advised that some had undergone International Airways coaching and had been donned of their uniform. All crew members had been pleasant, courteous and executed their duties professionally.
At one level, we had been provided sizzling damp cloths (all the time a delight) and an assortment of hand, toes and cuticle lotions – I utilised the hand cream however as a result of cabin strain, it would not stop shelling out, main me to make use of a moist wipe to handle the extreme greasiness. Nonetheless, a considerate gesture.
Nevertheless, you possibly can’t escape the sensation that it is not a International Airways crew, contributing to the sense of an incomplete product. Cabin crews normally take immense pleasure of their airways; this crew appeared to be merely enjoying an element.
The opposite cabins:
I had the chance to discover each the primary class cabin, situated on the decrease deck, and the economic system cabin. The latter was just about as you’d anticipate.
Just like the enterprise cabin, firstclass was spacious, with every seat located in its personal cubicle outfitted with screens that could possibly be closed for privateness. The International Airways contact was as soon as once more noticeable within the mushy product: petite leather-based purses containing the vainness kits, beige pyjama units (which one Youtuber demonstrated has a zipper that encloses the hood half fully, nearly like a morph go well with), and slippers.
I managed to get a glimpse of the primary class menu, which boasted extra choices than a high-end restaurant. Lunch decisions included caviar, antipasti, a cheese platter and a smoked salmon platter.
An ‘amuse bouche’ course featured dishes of tuna tartar, duck foie gras, and smoked duck breast.
Photos from the International Airways flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on Wednesday, Could 21, 2025 (Picture: Liv Clarke)
Apparently, whereas economic system’s ‘a la carte’ provided a lighter snack possibility of afternoon tea, firstclass offered a three-course feast.
Contemplating this can be a flight of beneath seven hours, after their lunch, passengers in first might then dine on: beetroot salad, tomato and mozzarella or balik salmon; adopted by: blackened miso cod, beef tender rib, rooster ballantine or pan fried butternut squash; and completed with ‘pina colada’ and ‘strawberry gem’ desserts or a chocolate and avocado mousse.
The menu is actually bold and spectacular, however one would possibly choose to get pleasure from such fare in a model new firstclass seat slightly than one which’s over a decade outdated.
So, what was the price of the flights?
We shelled out £697.28 for return flights from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, booked only a week earlier than departure. This value included 10kg hand baggage and 23kg maintain baggage.
Nevertheless, within the weeks main as much as our departure, a number of flash gross sales had been introduced, with return economic system tickets ranging from £380 and enterprise class returns from £1999.
A clean touchdown, however an unsure future.
As we caught sight of the enduring Manhattan skyline, our airplane made a clean touchdown at JFK, and our luggage had been promptly prepared for assortment after clearing passport management.
The A380, owned by International Airways, efficiently took off and safely delivered its passengers to their vacation spot.
Given the excitement surrounding the A380, maybe Asquith is onto one thing. There was a palpable sense of pleasure within the air, a touch that this could possibly be the start of one thing actually thrilling.
Nevertheless, the expertise I had felt considerably unfinished. It appeared akin to a publicity stunt, harking back to those that hire grounded non-public jets solely for social media picture ops, making a facade.
It felt as if the A380 had been equally employed, rapidly adorned with logos, and dispatched on what might probably be a one-off service.
International Airways has a big journey forward to determine a strong model id, rework its A380 (not to mention increase its fleet), and crucially, it must turn into an official airline. Till then, trusted manufacturers resembling Aer Lingus, Virgin and British Airways appear far more enticing for transatlantic routes from Manchester.
If Asquith succeeds, International Airways will characterize a brand new chapter within the historical past of aviation. However that is a really huge, Superjumbo jet-sized if.
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