Mongolian Airlines (MIAT) expects to take delivery of its first 787-9 in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023. The airline secured its first 787-9 on lease from Air Lease Corporation in 2019 and the initial delivery was expected in 2021, but with the pandemic and supply chain woes, the initial delivery deadline was not met.
The airline has not confirmed the exact delivery date yet but said in a US regulatory filing that adding the two 787-9s would allow the airline to launch services to Shanghai Pudong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore Changi, and San Francisco.
The airline's first US route is subject to regulatory approval and the certification of Mongolia as an FAA Category 1 country.
After receiving the approvals, the airline will serve US via codeshare flights from Seoul Incheon, Istanbul Airport, Japan, and Hong Kong. The airline has existing codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines, Korean Air, JAL - Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.
MIAT hopes to extend its network this way to Seattle Tacoma International, Denver International, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles International, New York, Washington Dulles, and San Francisco.