OM MGL Frequent-flyer program Blue Sky Mongolia Headquarters Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Fleet size 6 | MGL MONGOL AIR Destinations 8 Founded 1954 | |
 | ||
Hubs Chinggis Khaan International Airport Key people Tumurbaatariin Tamir (CEO) Hub Chinggis Khaan International Airport | ||
MIAT Mongolian Airlines (pronounced me-at, Mongolian: Монголын Иргэний Агаарын Тээвэр, Mongolyn Irgenii Agaaryn Teever (MIAT), Mongolian Civil Air Transport) is the Mongolian national airline, headquartered in the MIAT Building in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The airline operates international scheduled services from its base at Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulaanbaatar.
Contents
Communist era
MIAT Mongolian Airlines was established in 1956. It began operations with the help of Aeroflot and began flights on 7 July 1956 using an Antonov An-2 from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk. The airline also used Soviet-built Ilyushin Il-14s for flights to international destinations like Beijing and Moscow. During the 1960s and 1970s, the airline obtained Antonov An-24 and An-26 twin turboprops. A Tupolev Tu-154 jet on lease from Aeroflot was introduced in the late 1980s.
Post-communist era
In 1992, MIAT bought five Chinese Harbin Y-12 commuter aircraft and acquired a Boeing 727-200 from Korean Air, one more following in 1994. An Airbus A310 was leased in 1998, and a new Boeing 737 was leased in 2002 to replace the aging 727-200 fleet. Between 2003 and 2008, MIAT's An-24 and An-26 fleet was gradually retired. In April 2008, MIAT received its second Boeing 737-800 aircraft on lease from CIT Aerospace. In July 2008, MIAT ended scheduled domestic flights completely. In June 2009, the airline temporarily resumed scheduled domestic flights to Mörön and Khovd using its Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
In late 2009, MIAT flew charter flights to Hong Kong and Sanya, a popular resort city in Hainan. In June 2010, the airline's flights were brought to a halt due to a mechanics' strike. However, the situation was resolved with the replacement of the CEO and Technical Director.
In early 2011, MIAT signed an agreement with Air Lease Corporation to lease two former China Eastern Boeing 767-300ERs until 2013. The first aircraft entered service in May 2011 with the second following in November 2011. In 2011 the Airbus A310 was retired after serving MIAT Mongolian Airlines for 13 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. 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.
Codeshare agreements
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has the following codeshares (as of December 2012):
Current fleet
The MIAT Mongolian Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2016):
Previously operated
MIAT has operated a variety of aircraft types, including:
Accidents and incidents
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has suffered the following incidents and accidents since commencing operations: