Ascend Airways Expands Fleet with New Aircraft and Achieves Canadian AOC Milestone

According to a recent proclamation from Ascend Airways, a UK-based ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) and charter airline, the company has welcomed its fifth aircraft into the fleet—a Boeing 737-8 MAX. This milestone is part of their rapid growth strategy under the umbrella of Avia Solutions Group, recognized as the largest ACMI provider globally. Additionally, they have successfully obtained their Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC), further enhancing their operational capabilities.

The newly registered aircraft G-ULIT received its Certificate of Airworthiness on June 3, 2025. It will be put to work immediately under a long-term wet lease agreement. With this addition, Ascend Airways now boasts four Boeing 737-8 MAX planes in total.

“A huge shoutout to our dedicated team at Ascend Airways for their relentless efforts in expanding our fleet with three new aircraft over just two months,” expressed Alastair Willson, CEO of Ascend Airways. “this expansion positions us well to cater to the increasing demand for dependable ACMI services not only in the UK but also in other markets using cutting-edge aircraft.”

This year has been transformative for Ascend Airways; starting with merely two planes at the beginning of 2025 and now soaring up to five.The airline aims to incorporate more Boeing 737-8 MAX models soon and hopes to reach a total of eight by year’s end.

The choice of Boeing 737-8 MAX aligns perfectly with ascend’s vision of providing customers with state-of-the-art technology that emphasizes fuel efficiency. This model boasts a remarkable reduction in CO2 emissions by about 20% while also cutting noise levels by nearly half compared to older models—helping clients minimize their environmental footprint as they scale operations.

On top of expanding its fleet size, securing Canadian FAOC approval allows Ascend Airways to kick off ACMI operations across Canada just as travel peaks during IATA’s Winter season—where availability on B737-8 MAX is already set up. Moreover,they are nearing completion on obtaining FAA Part 129 approvals which will enable them not only charter flights but also expand into U.S.-based operations while working towards IOSA certification too.