Summary

  • MIAT – Mongolian Airlines plans to expand with a route to the US using its Boeing 787 fleet.
  • The airline aims to secure two additional 787-9s to open US flights and grow its long-haul network further.
  • MIAT has ambitious plans for flights to the US, Singapore, and Australia, despite its small fleet.

In an interview with ch-aviation, Monglian flag carrier MIAT – Mongolian Airlines revealed that it is planning to expand with a route to the US, made possible through a tentative expansion to its Boeing 787 fleet.

As it stands, the airline operates two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, both leased. It operates a limited long-haul network as a result, with the remainder of its fleet consisting of Boeing 737s and a Bombardier CRJ700. The carrier has previously expressed an interest in operating direct flights to the United States, indicating San Francisco as a potential destination.

The second 787 and US flights

These services were meant to have already begun with the arrival of MIAT’s second Boeing 787-9 in April 2024. That, however, has not happened yet. Instead, it has now emerged that the airline is looking at securing an additional two Boeing 787-9s in order to facilitate the rotations, all the while maintaining its current long-haul network.

MIAT Mongolian 787

Chief Commercial Officer, Batdari Namkhaijantsan told ch-aviation at the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Dubai this month:

“Right now, we are good with two [B787-9s]. But we are going to open up the US route. And, eventually, when we do it, we will need more aircraft. We have a plan to have four B787s in service by around 2028. But it is still difficult to get hold of aircraft on the market.”

The US is a long-standing ambition

As reported by Simple Flying last year, MIAT has been slowly moving towards its goal of flying to the US. In fact, the carrier first revealed its intention back in 2019, with the 787 being earmarked for the new flights.

While some had suggested a Los Angeles service as the perfect option, San Francisco has since emerged as the preferred candidate. The San Francisco Examiner had previously reported that an estimated 5000-10,000 Mongolians live in California which also explains why there is a consulate in the city.

In 2019, just 64,000 passengers traveled between Mongolia and the US, with San Francisco as the top market and Los Angeles as the runner-up. This may not be sufficient to fill a long-haul plane, even if more demand is stimulated through the introduction of a direct route.

Mongolia and the United States signed an Open Skies Agreement last year and a Transportation Memorandum, which facilitates “greater air connectivity between the United States and Mongolia” and provides “the legal framework for nonstop passenger flights.”

The current fleet and an ambitious outlook

The Mongolian Foreign Minister, at the reception of the carrier’s second 787-9 earlier this year, noted that flights to the US, Singapore, and Australia were next on the table —big ambitions indeed for a small airline with a limited fleet.

MIAT 737 MAX aircraft landing

In fact, according to ch-aviation data, MIAT operates nine aircraft, with one out of service. Its fleet is listed below:

  • One 737 MAX
  • Three 737-800s
  • One 757-200PCF
  • One 767-300ER (out of service)
  • Two 787-9s
  • One CRJ700
MIAT 737 taxiing on the tarmac

Currently, the two 787-9s operate between Ulaanbaatar and Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul Incheon. The first was delivered in August last year, and is registered EL-MGL. The second came almost a year later as EI-UBN. Both are leased from AerCap and were previously with China’s Suparna Airlines.

Related

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Plans Nonstop Flights To San Francisco

Mongolia’s flag carrier is working on connecting to San Francisco, California.

Initially, MIAT wanted to lease two 787-9s from Air Lease Corporation in 2019, but then it backtracked and planned to lease two 787-8s instead. Once again, this was scrapped, and finally, an agreement was found with AerCap.

Have you flown on MIAT’s 787s before? Let us know in the comments below.

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