Avia Solutions Group subsidiary plans cargo launch in November, followed by passenger services in Q1 2026, targeting ACMI and charter markets
Kuala Lumpur-based Ascend Airways Malaysia has received an air operator’s certificate AOC and plans to launch operations next month.
The Avia Solutions Group-owned airline will eventually offer both passenger and cargo operations in Malaysia and across the broader Southeast Asia region, but will kick operations off with a Boeing 737-800SF.
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.
The airline will offer both ACMI and charter services.
Ascend Airways Malaysia chief executive Germal Singh Khera said: "Malaysia is in an essential strategic position as a logistics and aviation hub that connects Southeast Asia, China, and India."
Khera added that he expects ACMI to become a "vital part of the Asia Pacific logistics ecosystem", enabling airlines to optimise their revenue during peak season as well as scale their operations more efficiently and successfully navigate operational challenges.
Avia Solutions now holds 11 AOCs across its member carriers, with operations in Europe, Asia and the Americas – including those of UK-based Ascend Airways.
As well as supporting local airlines and businesses, Ascend Airways Malaysia said it would move capacity seasonally between Malaysia and its sister carrier in the UK to meet counter-seasonal demand.
The move comes as the Southeast Asia region has been an air cargo growth hotspot in recent years as manufacturers look to diversify their production capabilities under the China+1 strategy.
This year has seen an acceleration in the move towards Southeast Asia as a result of the China-US trade war, and airlines have been looking to capitalise on the trend.
Yesterday, for example, saw Emirates SkyCargo announce the launch of a new service to Bangkok, while it has also recently increased its capacity into Hanoi.
