Regular services

The first batch of Mongolian flight crew for Antonov An-2 operations were sent to Irkutsk for training in 1955, graduating the next year and paving the way for regular domestic services. Regular flights started on 7 July 1956 using an Antonov An-2 from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk. The Ilyushin Il-14 was introduced in 1957,^[5] and by 1958, MIAT had a fleet of 14 Antonov An-2 and 7 Ilyushin Il-14 aircraft.^[4]

The first Antonov 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 from province centers to sum 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, a Tupolev Tu-154 on lease from Aeroflot.^[4]

Post-communist era

In 1992, MIAT bought five Chinese Harbin Y-12 commuter aircraft for domestic flights. The same year, the president of the Hanjin Group (parent of Korean Air) gave a Boeing 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 to Seoul, followed by flights to Berlin and Osaka in 1996.^[5]

An Airbus A310 was leased in 1998, becoming MIAT's first Airbus 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 crash was in 1998.^[7]

A Boeing 737 was leased in 2002 to replace the aging 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 second Boeing 737-800 aircraft on lease from CIT Aerospace.^[8] In July 2008, MIAT ended scheduled domestic flights completely, briefly resuming scheduled domestic flights to Mörön and Khovd in June 2009.

In late 2009, MIAT flew charter flights to Hong Kong and Sanya, a popular resort city in Hainan, China. 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.^[9] In 2011 the Airbus A310 was retired after serving MIAT Mongolian Airlines for 13 years.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 787-9, nicknamed "Khubilai Khaan" (Frankfurt Airport, 2023)

All-Boeing fleet

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 767-300, nicknamed "Chinggis Khaan" (2020)

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 to Shanghai and Guangzhou in China to start from summer of 2019.^[12] In addition, it announced the leasing of 3 Boeing 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-checkin system.

In 2019, it was announced that MIAT had acquired a Boeing 787-9 on lease from Air Lease Corporation, to be delivered in 2021.^[14] This was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a modified order of 2 Boeing 787-9 to be delivered starting in 2023, with flights being planned to Shanghai-Pudong, Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, and San Francisco.^[15]

Pandemic and post-pandemic

During the COVID-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 767-300 flown between Ulaanbaatar and Seattle.^[16] It performed similar repatriation and charter services during the pandemic to Sydney^[17] and Johannesburg,^[18] flying to the continents of Australia and Africa for the first time.

Bombardier CRJ200 in MIAT Regional livery being used as part of MIAT's domestic routes

In October 2022, MIAT became the first carrier to fly a Boeing 737-MAX into China after the latter's flight regulator grounded all 737 MAX aircraft in March 2019.^[19]

Starting June 2023, MIAT resumed its domestic operations, with flights to 7 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' with the goal of promoting and supporting tourism in Mongolia.^[20] As part of this change, MIAT wet-leased a CRJ-200 from CemAir and a Boeing 767.^[21][22]

In August 2023, MIAT announced the arrival of its first Boeing 787, to be used to initially fly routes to Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul.^[23]

Codeshare agreements

MIAT Mongolian Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Aeroflot^[26]
• Cathay Pacific^[27]
• Japan Airlines^[28]
• Korean Air^[29]
• Turkish Airlines^[30]

Current fleet

As of May 2022, MIAT Mongolian Airlines operates an all-Boeing fleet consisting of the following aircraft:^{[31][32][33][34]}

Former fleet

MIAT has previously operated a variety of aircraft types, including:^[39]