Mongolia's first private airline, “Aero Mongolia" has launched two weekly flights to Khanbogd soum, Umnugovi aimag. We talked to the company CEO, U.Sagamdoldoi.
-Why have you started direct flights to Khanbogd?
-Eleven years have passed since our company launched its first flight. We now operate 11 domestic and two international flights. We are proud to have provided air transport to Oyu Tolgoi since the project began. Oyu Tolgoi is a large project of significance to our country and I am excited to see it succeed. Thanks to this project, there has been a considerable increase in the number of passengers flying to the South Gobi. As a result, local authorities and communities often ask us to open new flights. Two years ago, Oyu Tolgoi built Khanbumbat airport in Khanbogd soum with its own funds. Khanbumbat meets international standards so we aim to effectively utilise this airport and deliver air transportation services to the local community. Thanks to Oyu Tolgoi’s contribution, the community now has access to air transport and South Gobi people, who live far from the capital city, are lucky to have access to this service for the first time. Khanbogd soum recently celebrated its 90-year anniversary so this first flight is an event of historic importance both to the soum and to the wider region.
-How many flights will there be each week?
-There will be two flights each week – on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
-How many seats will be available and what type of plane will you use?
-We will use a 50 seat, Dutch-made, Fokker-50 aircraft.
-Obviously, you need to have plenty of passengers to make this a success. Have you taken this into account?
-Of course. First of all, we will transport Oyu Tolgoi mine workers, as well as suppliers and contractor companies. Then there will be local passengers so we believe that the flights will operate to near-full capacity all the time.
-What are the benefits for opening this new flight?
-There are many answers to that question. We are proud that South Gobi residents will have access to high quality air transportation services to a very high standard of safety.
Travelling the 700 kilometres to Khanbogd by car takes between seven and nine hours. And some of the roads are very rough. Traveling over great distances in rough conditions can be very risky. Instead, by plane it will only take one hour. People can choose whether to fly for one hour, or drive for ten hours.
Today, the time factor is very important. "Time is money", as the saying goes. Medical conditions requiring emergency treatment in the capital city can also happen to anyone, so a flight could save a life.
By following the Oyu Tolgoi mine, the region will develop and the partnership between Oyu Tolgoi and local communities will be strengthened. New opportunities for business development in the region will also be opened up. For example, minibus and taxi services, serving passengers between Khanbumbat airport and Khanbogd, Bayan-Ovoo and Manlai soums, will develop. It will also encourage the development of tourism in the Gobi and various new services will emerge and expand. As a result, the living standards of local residents will improve.
-Where can people in the South Gobi buy tickets for the service?
-We have opened a representative office in Khanbogd and employed a local resident as our representative. The representative office is located on the first floor of the Karakorum trade centre. It is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9.00am-6.00pm. You can go there to get a ticket or can make a reservation by calling 88020036 or 99048977.
-People will be most interested in the price of a ticket. Can you tell us what it will be?
-All of our ticket prices depend on the distance, duration and timing. We strive to provide our services at an affordable price.
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