USGlobal Airways
Formerly Baltia Airlines, a U.S. airline venture that never operated a commercial passenger flight.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
USGlobal Airways was the later name of Baltia Air Lines, Inc., a publicly traded American airline venture founded in New York City in August 1989 by Igor Dmitrowsky. The company was established with the stated objective of linking New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport with destinations in the then-Soviet Union, particularly Leningrad and Riga. Although it obtained regulatory authority at different points and repeatedly presented plans to begin service, it never carried a commercial passenger and did not generate operating revenue. Its history is therefore primarily one of attempted certification, aircraft acquisition, corporate restructuring, and investor financing rather than airline operations. The company received U.S. Department of Transportation authority in 1991 for proposed services from New York to Leningrad and Riga. Its progress toward certification was delayed by a series of organizational and operational decisions. In 1996 it obtained authority for a New York–St. Petersburg route, but the plan did not translate into service. In 1998 Baltia placed a deposit on a former Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-200, yet lacked sufficient capital to launch the operation; the Department of Transportation subsequently revoked the route authority. After raising additional capital, the company again sought permission to operate to St. Petersburg in 2007. Aircraft purchases became a visible part of the company's strategy. In 2009 it acquired a former Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747-200 without engines. In 2011 it bought a former Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-200 and painted it in Baltia colors. Neither aircraft entered passenger service. The first aircraft was stored in Malaysia and later scrapped, while the second remained at Oscoda–Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan and was eventually scrapped in November 2020. The disposal of the Michigan aircraft represented a substantial loss to the company according to the cited historical account. Baltia promoted itself through aviation-related public activity, including sponsorship of the 2014 Baltia Air Lines Thunder Over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport. The event reportedly attracted more than 100,000 attendees, but the publicity did not resolve the company's certification and funding difficulties. The company also faced criticism after repeatedly failing certification tests; the cited account states that it failed seven such tests. Aviation commentators questioned whether the venture would ever become an operating airline. Following Dmitrowsky's death in 2016, the board elected Anthony Koulouris as president. Connie Kalitta joined the board on October 31, 2016, but resigned on January 31, 2017. Baltia also signed a letter of intent with Kalitta Air to lease a Boeing 767-300ER. In February 2017, after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to continue the certification process, the company announced an organizational restructuring intended to streamline that work. At a May 2017 shareholder meeting, the company announced that it would rebrand as USGlobal Airways and move its proposed operations to Stewart International Airport in New York. The rebrand was accompanied by efforts to pursue strategic transactions, including a proposed acquisition of Songbird Airways. That transaction progressed from a non-binding letter of intent to a stock purchase agreement but was terminated in November 2017 after management concluded that completing it was not in the company's best interests. The company's final period was marked by unresolved liabilities, continuing regulatory problems, and the loss of its public-market status. In June 2017, USGlobal disclosed a payment demand from Logistics Air LLC concerning alleged outstanding payables and stated that the parties were negotiating. On January 24, 2018, the FAA issued an order revoking Baltia's Certificate of Public Convenience. The company's stock was delisted in 2018 after it failed to file annual reports. No reliable subsequent operating record has been established, and the company's ultimate legal and corporate status remains unclear. USGlobal Airways is consequently remembered as an airline project that remained in the pre-operation stage throughout its existence.
History
Baltia Air Lines, Inc. was founded in New York City in August 1989 by Igor Dmitrowsky. Its business plan centered on scheduled flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Soviet Union, with Leningrad and Riga among the proposed destinations. The company obtained U.S. Department of Transportation authority for those markets in 1991 and later received authority for a New York–St. Petersburg route in 1996. Certification and financing problems prevented the company from turning those permissions into an operating schedule. In 1998, Baltia placed a deposit on a former Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-200. The company did not have enough capital to commence flights, and its route authority was revoked. After securing additional investment, it renewed its effort to operate to St. Petersburg in 2007. The company later acquired two Boeing 747-200 aircraft: a former Pakistan International Airlines aircraft in 2009 and a former Northwest Airlines aircraft in 2011. The first lacked engines and was stored at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia before being scrapped. The second was painted in Baltia colors and stored at Oscoda–Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan; it too never flew for the company and was scrapped in November 2020. Baltia maintained a public profile through aviation events and investor communications. It sponsored the 2014 Thunder Over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport, which reportedly drew over 100,000 attendees. At the same time, its repeated attempts to complete FAA certification attracted criticism. The historical record states that it failed seven certification tests, while aviation commentators questioned whether it would ever begin service. Dmitrowsky died in 2016, after which the board elected Anthony Koulouris as president. Connie Kalitta joined the board on October 31, 2016, and resigned on January 31, 2017. The company also signed a letter of intent with Kalitta Air concerning a Boeing 767-300ER lease. In February 2017, the company announced a restructuring intended to simplify its certification process. At a shareholder meeting in May 2017, the company announced that it would adopt the USGlobal Airways name and relocate its proposed operations to Stewart International Airport. The reorganization did not produce a commercial launch. In June 2017, USGlobal disclosed a payment demand from Logistics Air concerning alleged outstanding payables. It also pursued the acquisition of Songbird Airways, first through a non-binding letter of intent and later through a stock purchase agreement. The proposed transaction was terminated in November 2017. The FAA revoked Baltia's Certificate of Public Convenience on January 24, 2018. The company was also delisted from the stock market in 2018 after failing to file annual reports. No subsequent operating history has been reliably reported. Across its 29-year history as described in the cited source, the company never flew a commercial passenger flight and generated no operating revenue beyond money raised from investors. Its ultimate fate remains unclear.
- 2020
Stored Boeing 747 is scrapped
[1]The former Northwest 747-200 kept at Oscoda–Wurtsmith Airport was scrapped.
- 2018
Certificate revoked and stock delisted
[1]The FAA revoked the Certificate of Public Convenience, and the company's stock was delisted after annual-report filing failures.
- 2017
Rebrand to USGlobal Airways
[1]The company announced a new name, a proposed move to Stewart International Airport, and a restructuring of its certification effort.
- 2016
Founder dies and leadership changes
[1]After Dmitrowsky's death, Anthony Koulouris became president and Connie Kalitta joined the board.
- 2011
Second Boeing 747-200 acquired
[1]A former Northwest Airlines 747-200 was acquired and painted in Baltia livery.
- 2009
First Boeing 747-200 acquired
[1]The company purchased a former Pakistan International Airlines 747-200 without engines.
- 2007
Renewed St. Petersburg application
[1]Baltia again sought approval to operate from New York to St. Petersburg after raising additional capital.
- 1998
St. Petersburg authority revoked
[1]Insufficient capital prevented the launch of service after an aircraft deposit, leading to revocation of route authority.
- 1991
Initial route authority
[1]The company received authority for proposed New York–Leningrad and New York–Riga services.
- 1989
Baltia Air Lines is founded
[1]Igor Dmitrowsky founded the airline venture in New York City to pursue service between New York and the Soviet Union.
Products and positioning
A proposed U.S.-based international carrier focused on connecting New York with destinations in the former Soviet Union. In practice, the brand remained an airline venture in certification and fundraising rather than an operating passenger carrier.
International passenger route
Proposed New York–St. Petersburg service
This was Baltia's most persistent proposed passenger route. The company received authority for a New York–St. Petersburg operation in the 1990s and renewed its application in 2007, but certification, financing, and aircraft-readiness problems prevented the route from entering commercial service.
Wide-body aircraft · 2009
Boeing 747-200 fleet
Baltia acquired two Boeing 747-200 aircraft as part of its proposed long-haul operating model. One former Pakistan International Airlines aircraft was obtained without engines and stored in Malaysia; a former Northwest Airlines aircraft was painted in company colors and stored in Michigan. Neither aircraft carried passengers for Baltia, and both were ultimately scrapped.
Wide-body aircraft · 2017
Proposed Boeing 767-300ER lease
In early 2017, the company signed a letter of intent with Kalitta Air concerning the lease of one Boeing 767-300ER. The aircraft was intended to support the restructured airline's certification and planned passenger operations, but the proposal did not result in commercial service.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Baltia Air Lines Thunder Over Michigan sponsorship
United States
Baltia sponsored the Thunder Over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The event provided public visibility for the proposed carrier and was reported to have attracted more than 100,000 attendees.
Outcome. The sponsorship increased public exposure but did not lead to the commencement of passenger operations.
Brand decisions
2018
FAA revocation of Certificate of Public ConvenienceOtherBackground
The company had not completed certification or operated a commercial passenger flight.
Action taken
The FAA issued an order revoking Baltia Airlines' Certificate of Public Convenience.
Aftermath
The airline's ability to pursue the proposed operation was substantially ended, and its later corporate status became unclear.
2017
Corporate restructuring and relocation planStrategyBackground
The company continued to face delays in FAA certification and had never begun commercial service.
Action taken
USGlobal announced an organizational restructuring and a plan to move proposed operations to Stewart International Airport.
Aftermath
The restructuring did not produce an operating airline, and the FAA later revoked the company's Certificate of Public Convenience.
2017
Attempted acquisition of Songbird AirwaysM&ABackground
USGlobal sought to expand or accelerate its airline platform while it was still pursuing certification.
Action taken
The company announced a non-binding acquisition proposal, later entered a stock purchase agreement, and ultimately terminated the transaction.
Aftermath
The acquisition did not close; the company stated that proceeding was not the best decision for the business.
Proposed purchase price. US$6.2 million non-binding proposal; later US$6.5 million stock purchase agreement (2017)
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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