Hunnu Air (MR, Ulaanbaatar) has held talks with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) regarding the purchase of an undisclosed number of A330-200s for use in developing its long-haul network. The first of the aircraft is due for delivery in early 2015.

Speaking to RoutesOnline, airline vice president and chief commercial officer, Margad Byambajav, said despite his carrier's lack of long-haul machinery, it would go ahead with its planned Ulaanbaatar to Paris CDG service via Ekaterinburg using A319-100 aircraft. Yekaterinburg will only feature as a technical stop he said. The route will only operate between between June 9, 2014 and August 29, 2014.

Byambajav added that Hunnu would expand its operations throughout Asia in a bid to supplement its A330-based flights to Europe. Once in service, the A330s will be used on existing Bangkok Suvarnabhumi flights with other South East Asian destinations to be added in due course.

On the issue of Hunnu's fleet of three Fokker 50s, Byambajav said: “We are looking at the option of replacing the Fokker 50s as the aircraft are now getting quite old. The ATR 72 and ATR 42 versions and the Bombardier Dash 8-400s are under consideration.”

Formerly Mongolian Airlines (Ulaanbaatar), Hunnu Air currently offers connections between Mongolia and Thailand, China and Hong Kong.