Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia Calls for Faster Expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, January 30, 2026 /MONTSAME/. Although Chinggis Khaan International Airport was designed to serve 1.6 million passengers annually, it handled 2.4 million passengers in 2025.
As flight and passenger numbers continue to rise, Minister of Road and Transport Delgersaikhan Borkhuu emphasized the urgent need to begin the airport’s expansion during a meeting with Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia Masaru Igawahara and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
During
the meeting, the parties exchanged views on issues related to expanding and
increasing the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport using Japan’s
concessional yen loan to Mongolia, the Ministry of Road and Transport reported.
Minister
Delgersaikhan noted that the growing number of international and domestic
flights has led to congestion, including long queues at baggage claim areas and
delays in domestic flights. Taking these circumstances into account, he
conveyed to the Japanese side Mongolia’s interest in amending the existing
agreement. He also requested that construction begin earlier, the project
timeline be shortened, and planning and feasibility studies be accelerated with
projections through to 2039.
He also
requested that construction begin earlier, the project timeline be shortened,
and planning and feasibility studies be accelerated using projections through
2039.
As
of last year, Mongolia operates flights to 56 international destinations and
has concluded 50 air services agreements. With the number of transit passengers
increasing, the Government plans to build a transit hotel serving the
airport through a public–private partnership in the short term.
In
addition, New Ulaanbaatar International Airport LLC sharply increased
international landing and takeoff fees this year from MNT 17,000 to USD 18.
Amid a challenging global geopolitical environment and high aircraft fuel
costs, MIAT Mongolian Airlines JSC is operating at a loss of MNT 10 billion.
Under these circumstances, a three- to fourfold increase in aviation fees could
lead to higher ticket prices and other difficulties. The Mongolian side,
therefore, proposed that the parties hold consultations and introduce the fee
increases in stages.
Ambassador
Masaru Igawahara and JICA representatives stated that preparations for the
expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport are accelerating, adding that
further discussions are needed on planning and financing the design and
construction of a cargo terminal in order to commence the project at an earlier
date.
