A British airline operating out of Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport has gone into liquidation. Ascend Airways has ceased all flights immediately and is surrendering its UK Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). Established in 2004, the airline operated under its current name for only three years.
Specializing in “wet-lease” services, Ascend Airways provided aircraft to carriers like Oman Air, Air Sierra Leone, and TUI Airways. This arrangement, known as ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance), involved supplying fully-crewed planes to other airlines for short-term needs.
The company’s decision to shut down was reportedly due to economic challenges, including the impact of the conflict in Iran on the jet fuel crisis, as stated in an email sent to employees. Sources revealed that the airline’s closure was linked to the inability to secure contracts in the UK due to higher costs compared to Europe, exacerbated by the fuel crisis.
Employees were informed that operations would cease after the final flight with Oman Air landed at Stansted Airport from Muscat on Thursday. However, Ascend Airways Malaysia, the airline’s Malaysian branch, remains unaffected and continues to operate normally, as confirmed in a LinkedIn post.
Ascend Airways Malaysia, which acquired its air operator’s certificate and air services permit towards the end of the previous year, is currently operating cargo flights using a Boeing 737-800 freighter (9M-ASC). Plans are in place to expand into passenger services starting in July, pending necessary approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.
Initially launched in 2004 as Synergy Aviation, the UK arm of Ascend Airways rebranded in 2023. At the time of its closure, the airline operated a fleet consisting of one Boeing 737-800 and six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.