A British airline operating at Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport has gone into liquidation. Ascend Airways has abruptly canceled all flights and will surrender its UK Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). Established in 2004, the airline operated under its current name for a brief three-year period.
As a “wet-lease” provider, Ascend Airways supplied aircraft to various carriers such as Oman Air, Air Sierra Leone, and TUI Airways. Acting as an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) service, they offered fully-crewed planes on a short-term basis to other airlines.
Internal sources revealed that economic challenges, including the repercussions of the Iran conflict on the jet fuel crisis, were cited as reasons for the company’s closure. Staff received emails notifying them of the airline’s liquidation due to the inability to secure contracts, higher costs in the UK compared to Europe, and the significant impact of the fuel situation.
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 remains unaffected and continues to operate as usual, meeting all obligations and progressing with expansion plans.
Ascend Airways Malaysia, which obtained its air operator’s certificate and air services permit recently, has been conducting cargo flights with a Boeing 737-800 freighter. The airline is now targeting passenger services, aiming to commence operations in July following approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.
The UK branch of Ascend Airways, previously known as Synergy Aviation before rebranding in 2023, operated a fleet comprising one Boeing 737-800 and six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft at the time of its collapse.
