Mongolian carrier Hunnu Air is preparing to launch a non-stop service connecting Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi. Operating with a newly delivered Embraer 195E2 aircraft, the airline will initially launch the service with a weekly frequency in September.
The route will begin with one flight a week. The airline’s stated plan is to operate three weekly frequencies, but this has been pushed back due to jet fuel supply constraints and rising fuel costs.
“Once the situation goes back to normal, we will implement what we had initially planned — three times a week,” said Turbold Tserenkhuu, Chief Commercial Officer, Hunnu Air.
Overcoming long-haul transit bottlenecks
The air link builds on a relationship that deepened during the pandemic, when Hunnu Air transported Indian-supplied vaccines to Mongolia in 2020. Route expansion was previously constrained by smaller regional aircraft, forcing travellers between the two capitals to take one- or two-stop transit itineraries lasting over 20 hours.
With the delivery of its long-range Embraer 195E2, Hunnu Air can now bridge the two capitals with a seamless direct flight. The connection provides immediate relief for patients seeking specialised healthcare in India, while also streamlining travel for Mongolian students pursuing English-language and IT education at Indian universities.
Current market profile and demand
According to OAG data cited by the airline, annual passenger traffic between Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi currently stands at 6,000 travellers. Over 50% of this existing volume comprises outbound Mongolian medical tourists travelling for surgeries and hospital care, followed by education and business travellers.
Leisure travel currently represents a minimal fraction of the total market, driven largely by a lack of direct airlift and limited mutual awareness between the two markets. However, the airline views direct connectivity as the primary catalyst needed to build a sustainable bilateral tourism corridor.
Unlocking seasonal inbound and outbound opportunities
The commercial strategy centres on taking advantage of complementary weather cycles and distinct seasonal travel motivations.
Summer escape for Indian travellers
Mongolia offers an ideal summer refuge from India’s peak heat. With pleasant summer temperatures averaging 20°C–25°C, Mongolia presents Indian tourists with cool weather, rich heritage and untouched wilderness.
Winter niche travel
Outbound Mongolian travel naturally surges during winter as locals seek warmer Indian destinations. Conversely, Hunnu Air plans to promote Mongolia’s snow-covered landscapes and wildlife to adventurous Indian travellers, mirroring a strategy that has successfully attracted winter tourists from Southeast Asian source markets such as the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Targeting experiential youth and mindful travellers
Hunnu Air is placing a strong emphasis on younger demographics, including Gen Z and Millennial travellers, who increasingly prioritise immersive experiences and personal discovery over traditional material spending.
Mongolia’s core value proposition for Indian youth is its vast terrain and ultra-low population density, offering a serene environment far removed from high-density urban life. The airline highlights the organic, warm-hearted hospitality of communities in the countryside, urging trade partners to market authentic cultural immersion and lifestyle experiences over standardised commercial itineraries.
Trade collaboration and market education
Bridging the gap in consumer and travel trade awareness is the carrier’s top priority. To build the market, Hunnu Air has initiated outreach to key Indian trade bodies, including travel agent associations, and appointed a dedicated local commercial and legal representative group in India to oversee B2B and B2C marketing, media distribution and agency engagement.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
