Handover execution and communication resumption in a wireless access system is provided. Performing a handover includes communicating with a serving base station through a first communication link and receiving from the serving base station, handover information associated with at least one candidate target base station. The method also includes transmitting handover indicator to the serving base station indicating a handover operation to a selected target base station and performing a ranging procedure with the selected target base station to establish a second communication link with the selected target base station while maintaining the first communication link with the serving base station. The method also includes being released from the serving base station in response to a handover complete status message from the selected target base station to the serving base station, or resuming normal communication with the serving base station if the handover fails with the selected target base station.