NEW AIRLINE - Ascend Airways Malaysia takes first B737-800(SF)

Ascend Airways Malaysia (AXN) has taken delivery of its first aircraft, B737-800(SF) 9M-ASC (msn 33813), the start-up carrier announced on social media.
The 20.8-year-old aircraft, formerly operated by another Avia Solutions Group unit, AirExplore (ED, Bratislava), as OM-EDI, departed from Bacau on September 3 and arrived at Kuala Lumpur International via Mumbai International a day later. As of December 2024, the aircraft was owned by TC Aviation Capital Ireland Ltd, a special purpose vehicle of Tokyo Century, and leased to its former operator.
The ACMI start-up is currently in the process of securing its air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). It said its next steps would be to prove the aircraft's airworthiness and complete the certification process before commencing operations by year-end 2025.
Ascend Airways Malaysia previously said it would initially launch cargo flights in mid-November 2025. It also expects to induct its first B737-800 passenger aircraft by the end of 2025, followed by another in early 2026.

CH Aviation