KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): Malaysia's aviation sector is set to welcome a new entrant as Ascend Airways Malaysia secures its operating approvals. The airline is scheduled to begin operations this November, starting with its first Boeing 737-800SF aircraft.

The Kuala Lumpur-based carrier is a subsidiary of the Irish-headquartered Avia Solutions Group, a global provider of aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) services.

In a statement, Ascend Airways Malaysia said it has secured its air operator certificate (AOC) and air service permit (ASP) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), which allow it to kick off its operations.

The airline, which secured its conditional air service permit (CASP) in 2024, has been working closely with CAAM to complete the licensing process since.

Its passenger flights, however, are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, pending additional regulatory approvals.

Ascend Airways Malaysia plans to focus on offering ACMI and charter services for both passenger and cargo operations across Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region.

Ascend Airways Malaysia chief executive officer Germal Singh Khera said the airline aims to provide flexible ACMI solutions to support aviation expansion in Malaysia, where passenger traffic is projected to rise between 8.4% and 15.6% year-on-year in 2025 to reach 105.8 million to 112.9 million passengers.

Germal said Malaysia's strategic position as a logistics and aviation hub connecting Southeast Asia, China, and India places it well for growth.

In the same statement, CAAM CEO Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the issuance of the AOC and ASP reflected the airline’s fulfilment of a thorough and diligent evaluation process, and commended its diligence throughout the certification process.

Avia Solutions Group currently operates 187 aircraft across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.