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.[citation needed]
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 EasternBoeing 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.
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.
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.[citation needed] It performed similar repatriation and charter services during the pandemic to Sydney[16] and Johannesburg,[17] 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
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.[18] As part of this change, MIAT wet-leased a CRJ-200 from CemAir and a Boeing 767.[19][20]
In August 2023, MIAT announced the arrival of its first Boeing 787, to be used to initially fly routes to Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul.[21]
Destinations
As of October 2023, MIAT Mongolian Airlines serves the following destinations.[22]
25 June 1983: Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-8401 ran off the runway on landing at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport, collapsing the right landing gear and rolling over; all 47 on board survived. The aircraft had suffered engine failure on final approach and had been losing altitude.[43]
April 1985: Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-10207 reportedly crashed on approach to an airport in Khovsgol Province; the wreck was reportedly seen at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport in 1995.[44]
1985: Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-10210 force-landed in Khovsgol Province after both engines were shut down by mistake during a steep approach; the aircraft was written off.[45]
23 January 1987: Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-7710 crashed on landing at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport; there were no casualties.[46]
26 January 1990: Antonov An-24RV BNMAU-10208 force-landed near Ulaangom Airport after the pilot failed to locate the airport at night; all 41 on board survived.[47]
5 December 1992: Harbin Y-12 II D-0066 crashed on takeoff from Choibalsan Airport.[48]
23 April 1993: Antonov An-26 BNMAU-14102 struck the side of Marz Mountain during descent into Ölgii Airport en route from Ulaanbaatar after the crew began descending too soon, killing all 32 on board; wreckage was found on 7 May 1993.[49]
21 September 1995: Flight 557,[50] an Antonov An-24RV (BNMAU-10103) struck a mountain near Choho Geologoh Uul during approach to Mörön Airport en route from Ulaanbaatar after the crew descended too soon; of the 43 on board, only a passenger survived. The accident remains the deadliest in Mongolia.[51]
10 June 1997: Flight 447,[52] a Harbin Y-12-II (JU-1020), lost control and crashed after encountering windshear while on final approach to Mandalgobi Airport, killing seven of 12 on board.[53]
26 May 1998: Harbin Y-12 JU-1017 crashed into a mountain near Erdenet due to pilot error, killing all 28 passengers and crew on board.
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