– Twice weekly flights will connect local people to Ulaanbaatar –
Khanbogd, Mongolia – Oyu Tolgoi’s Khanbumbat Airport received its very first commercial flight today (Wednesday). Aero Mongolia has launched a twice weekly service from UIaanbaatar to the airport, located in Khanbogd soum of Umnogobi aimag.
The first flight, carrying senior Government officials and business representatives, touched down on the Gobi’s first international standard runway before a special opening ceremony.
The launch of the flights, served by Dutch made Fokker-50 aircraft, marks solid progress in Oyu Tolgoi’s plans to share the mine’s infrastructure with local people and communities.
CEO of Aero Mongolia U.Sagamdoldoi said “Eleven years have passed since our company launched its first flight. We are proud to have provided air transport to Oyu Tolgoi since the project began. Thanks to the mine, there has been a considerable increase in the number of passengers flying to the South Gobi. Local people have often asked us to open new flights so we are delighted that, because of the construction of Khanbumbat, we have been able to do this.”.
Ivan Vella, Chief Operating Officer of Oyu Tolgoi, said: “When we opened Khanbumbat Airport two years ago, we always had a day like today in mind. While we need the airport to bring our workforce to and from Oyu Tolgoi, we always had the intent that this key piece of regional infrastructure would be shared and bring tangible benefit to the community.”
After the ceremony at the airport, the dignitaries visited a local herder Ts.Suvdanshagai’s family and the Demchig monastery.
Flights between Khanbumbat and Ulaanbaatar will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Aero Mongolia has opened a representative ticket office in Khanbogd.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://ot.mn/en)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company, is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto. Located in the Umnugobi, Oyu Tolgoi has commissioned Concentrator plant in December, 2012 and commenced shipments of copper concentrate in July of 2013. As the biggest single investment in Mongolian history, Oyu Tolgoi already is a major driver of the country’s economy.
Oyu Tolgoi is managed by Rio Tinto, which is investing global expertise and cutting-edge technology to help develop Mongolia’s mining industry and ensure Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world’s most advanced mines. Oyu Tolgoi is developing a nationwide vocational training programme, regional infrastructure, and is committed to ensuring more than 90 per cent Mongolian national employment and a strong Mongolian supplier base. These programmes will help drive economic growth for generations to come.
Oyu Tolgoi’s core commitment is to a safe work place and setting a new standard in environmental care.
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