Hunnu Air: The Airline That Holds Rural Mongolia Together

The fleet

The airline now operates four leased Embraer E190 aircraft, having used two Fokker 50s in the past. The switch to Embraer regional jets has allowed faster journeys and greater capacity on the highest-demand domestic routes.

Routes and network

From Ulaanbaatar, Hunnu Air connects places such as Bayankhongor, Mörön, Choibalsan, Khovd and Dalanzadgad, opening up access to remote regions such as the Gobi. Internationally it flies to Beijing, Manzhouli and Hailar in China and to Almaty in Kazakhstan, as well as seasonal charter flights to the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and India.

History and positioning

Born as the heir to earlier attempts at Mongolian regional aviation, Hunnu Air has carved out an almost public-service role: with no direct alternative on many domestic routes, it is often the only practical way to reach the country's most peripheral aimags (provinces).

It is the right choice for those who need to reach the Gobi or Mongolia's remote provinces in a reasonable time. It is not designed for those looking for multiple daily frequencies or service comparable to an international carrier: many routes have only a few departures a week. A practical tip: book well in advance around Naadam, in July, when domestic demand peaks and seats sell out quickly.