Mongolia's MIAT in need of urgent state bailout

US's Northern Aviation Services eyes B737 Classic renewal

Northern Aviation Services, the owner of Alaska's Northern Air Cargo (NC, Anchorage Ted Stevens), Hawaii's Aloha Air Cargo (KH, Honolulu), and Florida's StratAir (Miami Int'l), is evaluating options to replace the B737 Classic freighters operated by the former two carriers, President and Chief Executive Betsy Seaton said during a roundtable at the ISTAT Americas conference.

"We're looking at, and we are starting the process of renewing that fleet... We're looking at B737-800s, -700s, and Avions de Transport Régional (ATR)s. I think that there's a lot of opportunity for different kinds of narrowbody freighters fitting specific needs," she was quoted by CargoFacts.

Northern Air Cargo's narrowbody fleet currently comprises one B737-300(F) (30.4 years old), one B737-300(SF) (26.7 years), and three B737-400(F)s (29.4 years on average), the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. The parent holding owns the three -400(F)s, while the -300s in both variants are dry leased from Automatic Leasing, according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module. In turn, the holding's Hawaiian outfit...

Editorial Comment: The article updates with corrected aircraft ownership details. - 22.11.2021 - 09:00 UTC

Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khaan Int'l, Mongolia opens to traffic

Mongolia’s new Ulaanbaatar Int'l airport has officially opened for commercial operations in what is being hailed a significant development for the economic growth of the landlocked country in north-central Asia.

Speaking during the July 4, 2021, opening ceremony, Mongolian President U.Khurelsukh said the new airport, situated 50 km south of the capital Ulaanbaatar, would boost air logistics hub growth and hoick tourism and the economy.

The inaugural commercial flight from the new airport was conducted by flag carrier MIAT - Mongolian Airlines (OM, Ulaanbaatar) to Tokyo Narita, Japan, using a B737-800.

Originally scheduled to commence operations in 2020, the opening was delayed because of COVID-19, with Mongolia only having resumed scheduled international traffic on June 1 since going into lockdown in February last year.

Politically seen as a symbol of Japan’s longstanding economic support to Mongolia, the new airport has cost JPY65.657 billion yen (USD595.8 million), 90% financed through a loan from the state-owned Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and 10% by the Mongolian government. The project...

Mongolia reopens for international flights

Mongolia, which has been closed for more than a year due to COVID-19, has reopened for approved scheduled international flights since June 1, 2021, the official Mongolian News Agency reports.

The Mongolian Cabinet announced the decision to reopen on May 31. The country suspended international passenger flights in mid-February last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mongolian nationals could now travel to more than ten countries with open borders, including Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, and India. However, only citizens who had received two doses of the COVID vaccine would be allowed to leave the country.

To increase the number of countries where Mongolians could travel, the government would issue certificates to citizens who have been vaccinated and hold diplomatic talks with China, Russia, South Korea, Kazakhstan, the UK, and Hungary, the news agency reported.

National carrier MIAT - Mongolian Airlines (OM, Ulaanbaatar) made no official announcement about the restart of its flights but has scheduled one return flight a week between Ulaanbaatar...

Mongolia suspends domestic passenger flights