MIAT Mongolian Airlinesthe national airline of Mongolia, took delivery on August 11, 2023 of its first Boeing 787, a 787-9.
It is the airline’s first Boeing 787. Previously, the aircraft was registered as B-20AF and was operated by Suparna Airlines, which retired it from use in August 2022, storing it at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), according to data from planespotters.net. It transferred to HAK in May 2023, before finally landing at the new Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN), also known as Chinggis Khan International Airport, and transferring to MIAT Mongolian Airlines. It is configured for 292 passengers into three classes. Boeing delivered the aircraft to Suparna Airlines in July 2019.
On August 7, 2023, the airline announced that it and AerCap, an Irish-based aircraft lessor, had signed an agreement for a long-term lease of two Boeing 787-9s. The second such device was to be delivered in the first quarter of 2023, according to the announcement.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines said its first routes using the 787-9 would be to the airport of Frankfurt, Istanbul Airport (IST), and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). It is also planned to use the aircraft to operate flights to the UNITED STATES especially since in early August 2023, Mongolia and the United States signed an Open Skies agreement, which could open the doors to direct flights between the two countries from 2024.
According to data from ch-aviation.com, seven Boeing 787-9s owned by AerCap are currently idle. Another is currently associated with Suparna Airlines, while the other aircraft are currently owned by Air Europa, Bamboo Airways, EgyptAir, El Al, Oman Air and Vietnam Airlines, while Suparna Airlines also owns another 787-9 which is currently inactive. Until now, MIAT operated three 737-800s and the first of four 737 MAX 8 leased (from ALC and Avolon), as well as a 767-300ER.
