The first batch of Mongolian flight crew forAntonov An-2 operations were sent toIrkutsk for training in 1955, graduating the next year and paving the way for regular domestic services. Regular flights started on 7 July 1956 using anAntonov An-2 from Ulaanbaatar toIrkutsk. TheIlyushin Il-14 was introduced in 1957,[5] and by 1958, MIAT had a fleet of 14Antonov An-2 and sevenIlyushin Il-14 aircraft.[4]
The firstAntonov An-24 turboprop aircraft was received in 1964.[5]An-26 twin turboprops were also obtained in the era.
By 1970, the airline was conducting services to 130 separate airfields in the country, with 4-6 flights a week from Ulaanbaatar to province centers (accounting for 70% of passengers), and 2-3 flights a week fromprovince centers tosum centers.[4]
In 1987, it started regular international operations to Moscow, Irkutsk, and Beijing (opening representative offices in the three cities) with its first jet aircraft, aTupolev-154B on lease fromAeroflot,[4] followed by a second modernTupolev Tu-154M lease in 1990.
In 1992, MIAT bought five ChineseHarbin Y-12 commuter aircraft for domestic flights. The same year, the president of theHanjin Group (parent of Korean Air) gave aBoeing 727-200 to the airline, with two more acquired in subsequent years. These three aircraft were used until 2003.[6] In 1993, MIAT was made into an independent state-owned enterprise.[4]
International operations outside of the Soviet Union and China started in 1995 with regular flights toSeoul, followed by flights toBerlin andOsaka in 1996.[5]
AnAirbus A310 was leased in 1998, becoming MIAT's firstAirbus plane.
The 1990s were a spotty era in MIAT's safety record, with four crashes of An-2, An-24, And Harbin Y-12 aircraft involving 139 fatalities. The last fatal crashwas in 1998.[7]
ABoeing 737 was leased in 2002 to replace the ageing 727-200 fleet, and the same year flights to Tokyo were introduced.[5]
Between 2003 and 2008, MIAT's An-24 and An-26 fleet was gradually retired. In April 2008, MIAT received its secondBoeing 737-800 aircraft on lease from CIT Aerospace.[8] In July 2008, MIAT ended scheduled domestic flights completely, briefly resuming scheduled domestic flights toMörön andKhovd in June 2009.[citation needed]
In late 2009, MIAT flew charter flights toHong Kong andSanya, a popular resort city inHainan, China. In June 2010, the airline's flights were brought to a halt due to a mechanics' strike. However, the situation was resolved by replacing the CEO and Technical Director.
In early 2011, MIAT signed an agreement withAir Lease Corporation to lease two formerChina Eastern AirlinesBoeing 767-300ERs until 2013. The first aircraft entered service in May 2011 with the second following in November 2011.[9] In 2014, the Airbus A310 was retired after serving MIAT Mongolian Airlines for 16 years.
In June 2011, MIAT began regular flights to Hong Kong. The company also ordered three aircraft, a Boeing 767-300ER and two Boeing 737-800s, to be delivered in 2013 and 2016, respectively.[10][11] The order marks the first time in two decades that MIAT has chosen to expand its fleet by purchasing new aircraft straight from the manufacturer rather than leasing them.
In January 2019, MIAT announced flights toShanghai andGuangzhou inChina to start in the summer of 2019.[12] In addition, it announced the leasing of threeBoeing 737 MAX aircraft to be delivered in January, May, and October 2019, thereby replacing two of its aircraft whose leases were due to expire in 2019,[13] together with the implementation of a self-checking system.
During theCOVID-19 pandemic on 21 June 2020, MIAT performed the first non-stop flight (for repatriation and aid purposes) between Mongolia and North America in history with a Boeing 767-300ER flown between Ulaanbaatar andSeattle.[16] It performed similar repatriation and charter services during the pandemic toSydney[17] andJohannesburg,[18] flying to the continents of Australia and Africa for the first time.
Starting June 2023, MIAT resumed its domestic operations, with flights to seven new destinations in Mongolia as well as restarting flights to Khovd and Mörön after 15 years. This was done in line with the government's program of '2023-2025 – The Years to Visit Mongolia' to promote and support tourism in Mongolia.[20] As part of this change, MIATwet-leased aBombardier CRJ-200 and a Boeing 767-300ER to increase capacity.[21][22]
In August 2023[23] and April 2024,[24] MIAT announced the arrival of twoBoeing 787s, to be used to fly routes to Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul initially.
In April 2024, MIAT received its firstBombardier CRJ700 for use in domestic routes in "MIAT Regional" Branding, increasing its domestic capacity,[25] followed by a secondBombardier CRJ700.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines plans to transform Mongolia into a major air transit hub, leveraging its strategic geographical location between Europe and Asia. The airline aims to increase its transit passenger numbers significantly, targeting 24,000 passengers in 2024 and projects a revenue boost of 1 trillion MNT ($333 million).[31] This initiative involves significant infrastructure upgrades atChinggis Khaan International Airport, enhanced marketing strategies, and forming strategic partnerships to offer competitive pricing and high service standards, positioning Mongolia as a viable alternative to established transit hubs.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has suffered the following incidents and accidents since commencing operations:[42]
4 August 1963:Avia 14 Super MONGOL-105 struck the side ofOtgontenger mountain, killing at least two. According to a Mongolian journalist, the aircraft had departedBuyant-Ukhaa International Airport for Uvs and Hovd with more than 40 on board. In 2005, the wreckage, which was still in good condition, was removed from the mountain and dragged and slid into a nearby canyon.[43][44]
April 1985:Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-10210 force-landed inKhövsgöl Province after both engines shut down following a loss of altitude due to icing; all 29 on board survived.[50]
23 January 1987:Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-7710 crashed on landing at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport; there were no casualties.[51]
26 January 1990:Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-10208 force-landed nearUlaangom Airport after the pilot failed to locate the airport at night; all 41 on board survived.[52]
23 April 1993:Antonov An-26 BNMAU-14102 struck the side ofMarz Mountain during the descent intoÖlgii Airport en route from Ulaanbaatar after the crew began descending too soon, killing all 32 on board; the wreckage was found on 7 May 1993.[54]
21 September 1995:Flight 557,[55] anAntonov An-24RV (BNMAU-10103) struck a mountain near Choho Geologoh Uul during approach toMörön Airport en route fromUlaanbaatar after the crew descended too soon; of the 43 on board, only a passenger survived. The accident remains the deadliest inMongolia.[56]
10 June 1997: Flight 447,[57] aHarbin Y-12-II (JU-1020), lost control and crashed after encountering wind shear while on final approach toMandalgovi Airport, killing seven of 12 on board.[58]
26 May 1998:Harbin Y-12-II JU-1017crashed into a mountain near Erdenet due to pilot error, killing all 28 passengers and crew on board.[citation needed]
14 January 2001:Mi-8T JU-1025 spun into the ground from 165 ft (50 m) and exploded near Hangai Um, Malchin district (600 mi (970 km) west ofUlaanbaatar), killing nine of 23 on board. The helicopter was operating for theUnited Nations.[59]
3 May 2016:Boeing 737-8CX EI-CXV steered off the runway during takeoff from Khovd Airport; all 111 on board survived.[60]
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