MIAT Mongolian Airlines is retiring its last Antonov An-24 this week, leaving it at least temporarily without any domestic aircraft.
Privately owned Aero Mongolia will fill some of the void by adding three domestic destinations, for a total of 10, but seven of Mongolia's 17 airports will be left without any service. Several of these airports are too austere for Aero Mongolia's fleet of two Fokker 50 turboprops and the carrier aims to add a Fokker 100 twinjet in May rather than a niche, short-field aircraft.
The Mongolian government is now considering proposals to quickly lease replacement aircraft such as the Antonov An-140 from CIS vendors. MIAT is also looking at putting one of its several grounded An-24s through a costly life extension programme, but the government may decide to let the flag carrier drop its highly unprofitable domestic operation.
MIAT continues to operate an Airbus A310 and Boeing 737-800 internationally.
Source: Flight International
