Ascend Airways (YD, London Gatwick) has taken delivery of its first B737-800 and began operating it in the first half of February, ch-aviation research has revealed.

G-HODL (msn 38175), a 12.2-year-old aircraft previously operated by KlasJet (a sister company also owned by Avia Solutions Group) and owned by Air Lease Corporation, was registered in the United Kingdom on January 9 but remained in maintenance at Glasgow Prestwick for another month. It was ferried to Nottingham East Midlands, wearing an all-white livery, on February 8. On February 14, it began operating high-utilisation domestic training flights.

"Crew training flights up next as we wait for the B737 to be endorsed on our Air Operators Certificate and Type A Operating Licence to be issued," Commercial Director Tony Carder said.

Ascend Airways was known as Synergy Aviation until last year. The British carrier launched in 2004 and had focused on the business charter niche prior to pivoting to narrowbody ACMI/charter operations. Synergy Aviation's AOC remains valid but has yet to be updated - the carrier is currently certified to operate Cessna 525 and Cirrus SF50 types commercially. Likewise, Synergy Aviation only has a Type B Operating Licence, which allows the airline to ply charter flights with aircraft seating up to 19 passengers.

Ascend Airways does not have any business jets remaining in its fleet.