ACMI giant Avia Solutions Group entered the UK market in 2023 with the launch of Ascend Airways. Thomas Haynes sat down CEO Alastair Willson to find out about the airline’s strategy.
Airliner World: Could you tell us about your background and how you came to lead Ascend Airways?
Alastair Willson: I started by doing an aviation degree and took my first job with a charter broker at Gatwick called Air Partner, where I worked for nine years. I then moved to Titan Airways where I also worked for nine years. In my last few I was the managing director. I joined Avia Solutions Group (ASG) in July 2023 to launch Ascend Airways, which I think is the 12th or 13th AOC (air operator certificate) within the company.
ALW: The airline is focusing on the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) leasing and charter market. Could you outline your strategy?
AW: Ascend was launched to try and provide local capacity and locally based aircraft and crew to the UK market during the summer season. In the winter, we’ll look for work further afield, but my observation with the UK market is that ACMI is a growing sector of the industry. I think people are seeing it as an increasingly valuable way to enjoy the flexibility of the cap…
