Boeing Order To Be Announced?

MIAT Mongolian Airlines is inching closer to a new Boeing aircraft order, according to fresh reporting.

A new Boeing contract is nearing finalisation after senior Mongolian transport officials met with a Boeing delegation to discuss cooperation, including fleet, financing, and technical aspects.

For the moment, the terms of the deal remain confidential as final details are being worked through; that means aircraft types, quantity, and deliveries haven’t been disclosed, leaving much unknown.

The meeting involved Mongolia’s Minister of Roads and Transport, Borkhuugiin Delgersaikhan, and a Boeing team led by Jeff Edwards, the manufacturer’s vice president of commercial sales and marketing for North Asia.

According to the transport ministry and Montsame news agency, the talks primarily focused on current market demand and how new aircraft could support that demand. Furthermore, importance was placed on the payment conditions and what financing would be available when the contract is signed.

Could Boeing Shape MIAT’s Future Fleet?

Mongolia’s government has prioritised air transportation. With the country’s geographic positioning between Asia and Europe, this is viewed as a way to develop Ulaanbaatar into a stronger regional connecting hub.

While new aircraft will help improve connectivity, it’s also deemed important for international links that benefit tourism, trade and business-related travel, with Ulaanbaatar at the heart of this.

Mongolia is interested in the next-generation aircraft put forward by Boeing as part of efforts to not only improve the hub, but to ensure lower operating costs, particularly through reduced fuel consumption, as volatility in 2026 has put pressure on airlines with older fleets.

For MIAT, there is already a strong presence of Boeing jets within the fleet; the carrier has one Boeing 737-8 at 7.6 years to its name and flies two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners averaging 7.3 years. Beyond its newer aircraft, the company still has 737-800s, one 757-200, and one 767-300 for a mixed fleet.

Renewal is important; the 737 MAX family fits the bill for regional and medium-haul growth opportunities, while long-haul growth could create an opportunity for additional 787 Dreamliners if financing can be secured and demand makes sense.

MIAT has worked closely with Boeing for some time, being a partner for three decades and operating several aircraft over the years through leases; It was not until 2013 that MIAT received its first directly purchased Boeing aircraft, a 767-300ER.

While a new contract is in the works and appears to be approaching, financing will be one of the larger components that could make or break the deal. The relatively small national carrier needs to find mutually beneficial payment terms that don’t impact its margins in the future.

Airbus Could Compete for MIAT’s Next Order

However, the Boeing discussions, which were reported to be positive, do not mean the American planemaker will avoid competition in getting a contract over the line. Weeks ago, Minister Delgersaikhan said MIAT was considering acquiring 10 Airbus aircraft.

The proposed Airbus deal was not only an effort to renew the fleet but also part of a broader strategic move by the carrier to reduce its dependence on lessors by purchasing jets directly. MIAT has received confirmation that the Development Bank of Mongolia will provide financing, making any transaction easier.

MIAT has not yet made a final decision, or if a split deal is possible, the competition is fierce as Boeing looks not just to source large three-digit orders but also expand into smaller, more ambitious markets where it can support a whole nation.