First landing of MIAT 787-9 at Frankfurt Airport on 16th August 2023 after delivery from Suparna Airlines.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines is Mongolia’s flag carrier, fully owned by the state, and is based at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar. In an interview with ch-aviation, Mongolian flag carrier MIAT revealed its plans to expand with a route to the US through the expansion of its Boeing 787 fleet.
What lures MIAT to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
An important aircraft for MIAT is the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is renowned for its cutting-edge technology and excellent fuel economy. In addition to offering excellent amenities and a quiet, comfortable ride for passengers, its contemporary engines and lightweight design also make it a great fuel-efficient aircraft.
MIAT and its plan to launch long-haul flight to USA
The national airline of Mongolia, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, began submitting applications to the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2019 in order to begin operating flights to the US. During the pandemic, these plans were suspended; however, they were recommenced in the early months of 2023. The carrier’s only long-haul aircraft was the Boeing 767, which wasn’t capable of operating these nonstop long-haul flights. Due to this, the airline ordered two Boeing 787-9s to operate these long-haul flights.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER which was the only long haul flight aircraft before acquiring the 787s
These services were meant to begin with the arrival of MIAT’s second Boeing 787-9 in April 2024. However, this has not happened yet. Instead, the airline has planned to secure an additional two Boeing 787-9s to facilitate the rotations while maintaining its current long-haul network to Ulaanbaatar, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul Incheon.
This month in Dubai, on the fringes of the IATA AGM, Chief Commercial Officer Batdari Namkhaijantsan informed ch-aviation:
“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.”
Some have suggested Los Angeles as the ideal option, while San Francisco is considered the preferred candidate.
The San Francisco Examiner previously reported that an estimated 5,000–10,000 Mongolians live in California, which explains the presence of a consulate in the city. In 2019, only 64,000 passengers traveled between Mongolia and the US, with San Francisco as the top market and Los Angeles as the runner-up. Even with increased demand from a direct route, it might still be challenging to fill a long-haul plane.
Both of MIAT’s 787-9s are now in service between Ulaanbaatar and Seoul Incheon, Frankfurt, and Istanbul. In August of 2023, the first 787-9 was delivered, and in April of 2024, the second. Both were once owned by China’s Suparna Airlines and are currently being leased from AerCap. In 2019, MIAT decided to lease two 787-8 aircraft from Air Lease Corporation rather than the two 787-9s that they had originally intended to lease. Finally, an agreement with AerCap was made, and this idea was dismissed.
The shorter Boeing 787-8 variant which MIAT had once decided to lease from Air Lease Corporation
Doubling the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fleet For US Expansion
In order to begin its US growth, MIAT intended to launch a direct long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner trip to San Francisco. The long-haul journey to the United States has not yet begun, but MIAT had intended to begin operations upon the arrival of two Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Even after the arrival of two Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets, the airline has ordered two more Boeing 787-9s to enable the rotations while keeping its current long-haul network.