UK-based ACMI and charter airline Ascend Airways has marked another major milestone in its rapid expansion with the delivery of its fifth aircraft—a Boeing 737-8 MAX.
The newly acquired aircraft, registered G-ULIT, received its Certificate of Airworthiness on 3 June 2025 and is set to be immediately deployed on a long-term wet lease contract, further enhancing the airline’s service capacity.
This latest delivery brings Ascend’s active fleet of 737-8 MAX aircraft to four, and follows a year of accelerated growth.
The carrier began 2025 operating just two aircraft.
The airline, part of the global Avia Solutions Group, has also secured its Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC), allowing it to operate into Canadian airspace and marking a key step in its international expansion plans.
Alastair Willson, CEO of Ascend Airways said: “Our growing fleet positions us perfectly to meet the increasing demand for reliable ACMI services in the UK and other markets with the newest generation of aircraft.”
The airline has announced plans to further expand its fleet to a total of eight Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft by the end of the year, as demand for modern, fuel-efficient aircraft in the ACMI and charter sector continues to rise across Europe and North America.
Ascend Airways’ growth reflects a wider post-pandemic resurgence in ACMI operations, as airlines seek flexible capacity solutions to manage volatile demand and network recovery.
