MIAT Mongolian Airlines looks to join Oneworld
Mongolia's national airline, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, is actively pursuing membership in the Oneworld alliance
Mongolia's national airline, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, is actively pursuing membership in the Oneworld alliance, a significant move for the carrier that operates a modest fleet of four Boeing 737s, a single Boeing 767, and recently acquired Boeing 787-9 jets. The airline plans to fly the Dreamliners on routes from its base in Ulaanbaatar to Frankfurt, Istanbul, Seoul, and potentially San Francisco. Joining the Oneworld alliance would support MIAT Mongolian's international expansion plans. The airline's CEO, Munkhtamir Batbayar, emphasized the importance of partnerships, noting the existing codeshare alliances with Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. The airline is actively seeking entry into Oneworld Connect, a program tailored for smaller airlines with a regional focus that provides certain benefits of Oneworld membership without the full complexity. Oneworld Connect was launched in 2018 with Fiji Airways as its first member, sponsored by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. MIAT Mongolian could become the second member, backed by Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. The Oneworld alliance is in discussions with potential partners, recognizing the increasing significance of airline alliances in the post-pandemic travel landscape. Under Oneworld Connect, frequent flyers receive scaled-down benefits, while status holders from sponsoring airlines enjoy more substantial privileges such as lounge access, points accrual, and baggage through-checking between flights. MIAT Mongolian's Blue Sky Mongolia frequent flyer program aligns with the tiered structure of other Oneworld airlines. As Oneworld seeks to expand its membership, Oman Air is set to join by 2024, with RwandAir and discussions with China Southern also on the horizon. Oneworld's ambitions reflect its drive to strengthen its global network and offerings.
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