The CEO of MIAT Mongolian Airlines has revealed that his carrier is pursuing limited membership in the oneworld alliance as a oneworld connect member.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Is Pursuing Oneworld Alliance As Connect Member
MIAT just took took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jet, which it plans to use for USA service once regulatory approval has been obtained.
CEO Munkhtamir Batbayar sat down with CNN’s Richard Quest to discuss the future of his airline. As Quest pushed Batbayar for how such a small player could ever be a key competitor, Batbayar insisted it could be done through partnerships. When Quest asked if MIAT would join an airline alliance, Batbayar revealed:
“We are actively pursing to get into the oneworld connect program, which is not actually the alliance, but is the connect program where those two major partnerships are in, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines.”
Indeed, MIAT entered into a codeshare partnership with Cathay Pacific in 2017 and JAL in 2020.
Per oneworld, oneworld connect partners “provide select alliance benefits to frequent flyers from any oneworld member airline traveling on their flights, with a more extensive range of benefits offered with a subset of oneworld member airlines, known as their ‘oneworld sponsors.'” It is not a stretch to presume that Cathay Pacific and JAL would be willing sponsors.
Practically, oneworld connect is designed so that regional airlines can join the alliance, but without the massive price tag. Fiji Airways is currently a oneworld connect member, but still found on the oneworld membership page.
Comparatively speaking, MIAT is a tiny airline in a country with a population of just 3.3 million. But as Batbayar pointed out to Quest, its strategic position between Russia and China makes it an interesting flag carrier. Geographic proximity may not mean anything in the long-term, but I could also see Mongolia serving as a transit point between the two nations if relations sour, just as Oman was a key transit point between Qatar and other Gulf states in 2017.
CONCLUSION
MIAT is now in procession of its first Dreamliner jet and is eyeing membership in oneworld as a connect member. This remains theoretical, but its existing relationships with two oneworld members make this ascent more likely. I would guess MIAT is much more likely to join oneworld before flying to the USA…
I think this is great to see MIAT’s ambition. I have several friends who have flown with them, as a transit between Europe and Korea or stopping over in Ulaanbaatar and have said it was a good experience… limited by the hard product of old B767 but warm service. They also enjoyed their time in Mongolia where in UB seemingly any car is a taxi – people are friendly and will stop and pick you up.
They could offer a unique, geographically key connecting point. The US service is huge for them. MIAT is one to keep an eye on in the next 5-10 years for sure.
MIAT is a perfect fit for all the other outcasts and just plain odd (Rwandair anyone?) airlines in and around that alliance. From a purely commercial viewpoint, I would think that SkyTeam appears to be a better fit as ULN seems to be a rather important destination for KE and Aeroflot’s suspension has left a gap in the wider region (S7 never had serious international ambitions beyond offering essentially a holiday charter service for Russians to popular destinations), but, knowing the way QR operates, it wouldn’t be too wild to speculate that there are some personal relationships behind the oneworld choice.
This makes a lot of sense for them. KE is probably one of MIAT‘s biggest partners in providing connectivity and won’t lose KE despite joining OW since ST doesn’t really care about members having non-member airlines as partners.
I think this is great news! Bring on all the airlines to OneWorld! Can’t wait for Oman Air, RwandAir, and hopefully Starlux to join as well!