MIAT Mongolian Airlines, flag carrier of Mongolia, is planning to launch commercial flights to US. The airline has filed a document with the Department of Transportation (DoT) to get the service started.
The services will commence between Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN) to the Los Angeles Airport, US. The airline plans on using its future 787-9 aircraft on the new route. The airline is expecting delivery of its new aircraft by June 2023.
The process is still in the nascent stage. Prior to the launch of the flights, the Mongolian and US governments need to finalise an Air Transport Agreement. Just last month both the governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) finalising the first bilateral air transport agreement.
On signing the MoU, the US Department of State releases a statement stating that the MoU acknowledged that the aeronautical authorities of the countries intend to apply the agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity pending its entry of force. The agreement includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, and open codesharing opportunities.
Prior to this, MIAT operated an only-cargo flight from Ulaanbaatar to the US to deliver 60,000 items of personal protective equipment to the Navajo Nation indigenous community.
MIAT currently serves nine international destinations, including two long-haul route services to Frankfurt, Istanbul, Phuket, Bangkok, Tokyo-Narita, Hong Kong, Busan, Seoul Incheon, and Beijing.
MIAT has six aircraft it its fleet. The airline recently signed a codeshare with Turkish Airlines to allow passengers more flexibility of choice to fly on routes between Turkey, Mongolia, and beyond.