Ascend Airways Malaysia, a Malaysia-based airline and part of the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, Avia Solutions Group, has officially received its AOC and ASP licenses. It will begin operations this November.
The airline was first granted its Conditional Air Service Permit (CASP) in 2024. Throughout this year, it worked closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to obtain its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). With this part of the process having been successfully completed, Ascend Airways Malaysia is able to start operations with its very first aircraft Boeing 737-800SF.
The Kuala Lumpur-based ACMI and charter airline will be offering both passenger and cargo operations in Malaysia and across the broader Southeast Asia region. Subject to additional regulatory approvals, passenger flights are scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026, alongside the further expansion of Ascend Airways Malaysia’s fleet.
According to Germal Singh Khera, CEO of Ascend Airways Malaysia, the airline will provide flexible ACMI solutions to support Malaysia’s aviation expansion, with passenger traffic expected to grow between 8.4% and 15.6% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 105.8–112.9 million passengers.
“Malaysia is in an essential strategic position as a logistics and aviation hub that connects Southeast Asia, China, and India. We are very grateful for the support we received from the Ministry of Transport, CAAM, MAVCOM, and other local authorities. This cooperation is helping the aviation industry in Malaysia to develop and realise its full potential,” he says.
Mr. Khera also expressed his hope that ACMI will soon become a vital part of the Asia-Pacific logistics ecosystem, as this model enables airlines to optimize their revenue during peak season as well as scale their operations more efficiently and successfully navigate operational challenges.
Avia Solutions Group has been offering the ACMI business model across the globe via 11 AOCs in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Operating across the globe allows the group to follow seasonal patterns and shift its fleet of 187 aircraft to the markets where the demand for aircraft is highest. Through the wet lease (ACMI) model, airlines can expand capacity without long-term commitments, improving operational flexibility and increasing overall profitability by 2-3% with the right strategy in place.
“We have a talented, dedicated, and hardworking team that is more than capable of delivering services that will unlock new revenue opportunities for our partners in the region. We aspire to be the leaders in the ACMI space in the Asia-Pacific region and contribute to making it the next powerhouse of the global economy,” says the CEO of Ascend Airways Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Dato’ Captain Norazman Bin Mahmud, the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) complimented the preparedness level of Ascend Airways Malaysia, which ensured a smooth licensing process. “The issuance of Ascend Airways Malaysia’s AOC and ASP reflects the airline’s fulfillment of a thorough and stringent evaluation process in accordance with Malaysia’s civil aviation safety and regulatory requirements. We commend the airline for its diligence throughout the certification process and look forward to its continued compliance as part of our shared commitment to a safe, secure and resilient aviation industry,” he says.
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