1 39 MONGOLIAN STUDENTS TO STUDY IN GERMANY UNDER “PRESIDENT'S SCHOLAR - 2100” PROGRAM WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      2 MONGOLIAN FLAG CARRIER TO START NON-STOP FLIGHTS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND ULAANBAATAR FROM NOV 4 WWW.STRAITSTIMES.COM PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      3 WHEN CHINA SNEEZES, MONGOLIA CATCHES A COLD WWW.INTELLINEWS.COM PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      4 MONGOLIA–JAPAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS INNOVATION FORUM TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 18 WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      5 GREENHOUSE PROPAGATION TECHNOLOGY FOR CONIFEROUS TREES UNDER TESTING WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      6 DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM KOREA TO MONGOLIA'S KHUVSGUL LAUNCHED WWW.AKIPRESS.COM PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      7 8 KILLED, 41 INJURED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN MONGOLIA OVER NAADAM FESTIVAL WWW.XINHUANET.COM PUBLISHED:2025/07/30      8 CONSOLIDATING PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN MONGOLIA WWW.VERFASSUNGSBLOG.DE  PUBLISHED:2025/07/29      9 MONGOLIA’S NEW CHALLENGE: ILLEGAL DRUGS WWW.THEDIPLOMAT.COM PUBLISHED:2025/07/29      10 PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA PARTIALLY VETOES PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF “GOLD-3” NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/07/29      ГАНГИЙН ЭРСДЛИЙН ҮНЭЛГЭЭГЭЭР ТАВАН АЙМАГ ЭРСДЭЛ ИХТЭЙ ГАРЧЭЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     МОНГОЛЫН КОКСЖИХ НҮҮРСНИЙ ҮНЭ ХЯТАДЫН БООМТУУДАД ДАХИН ӨСЛӨӨ WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     НИЙСЛЭЛД ХЭРЭГЖҮҮЛЖ БУЙ МЕГА ТӨСЛҮҮДЭД ХАМТРАН АЖИЛЛАХААР САНАЛ СОЛИЛЦЛОО WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     ОХУ-ЫН ШАТАХУУН ЭКСПОРТЫН ХОРИГ МОНГОЛ УЛСАД ҮЙЛЧЛЭХГҮЙ WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙДЫН АХЛАХ ЗӨВЛӨХӨӨРӨӨ Б.ДАВААДАЛАЙГ ТОМИЛЖЭЭ WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     НИЙТИЙН ЭЗЭМШЛИЙН 50 БАЙРШИЛД ТӨЛБӨРТЭЙ ЗОГСООЛ БАЙГУУЛЖ, ТОХИЖИЛТ ХИЙГДЭЖ БАЙНА WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     “MONGOLZ” БАГ УКРАИНЫ “NATUS VINCERE” БАГТАЙ БААСАН ГАРАГТ ТОГЛОНО WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/30     МӨРӨН НИСЭХ БУУДАЛ АНХ УДАА ОЛОН УЛСЫН НИСЛЭГ ХҮЛЭЭН АВЛАА WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/29     ХОТЫН ДАРГА Х.НЯМБААТАР БЭЭЖИН ХОТЫН ДАРГА ИН ЮНТАЙ УУЛЗАВ WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/29     ЧИНГИС ХААН БАНКНЫ ӨР ТӨЛБӨРТ ХӨРӨНГӨ АВАХААР БОЛЛОО WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/07/29    

Category

Events

Events

Name organizer Where
MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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Mongolia and Iceland to Cooperate in Renewable Energy and Green Technology www.montsame.mn

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh paid an official visit to Iceland on May 2-3, 2025. This official visit marks the first visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia to Iceland. 
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir held official talks on May 2, 2025. 
During the official talks, the two Foreign Ministers emphasized that the traditionally friendly relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Iceland, based on common values of mutual trust, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, have been developing for over half a century and agreed to promote the cooperation in renewable energy, green technology, animal husbandry, education, and tourism. 
While highlighting the importance of regular exchange of high-level visits in advancing bilateral relations, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to maintain the frequency of high-level visits. Also, the Foreign Minister of Iceland affirmed her visit to Mongolia soon. 
The two sides exchanged views on further broadening the Mongolia-Iceland cooperation, and some issues of international relations and discussed ways to cooperate within the United Nations and other international organizations. 
As an outcome of the official talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland. They also agreed to foster bilateral cooperation and to jointly contribute to the efforts of the international community in promoting global sustainable development, as well as universal peace and stability.

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President of Mongolia to Attend the Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War www.montsame.mn

At the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa will attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow on May 9, 2025.
President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will hold an official meeting and exchange views on relations and cooperation between the two countries.
On May 9, 2025, President Khurelsukh will attend the Victory Day Parade at Red Square, along with other Heads of State and high-ranking officials, and lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in  Alexander Garden.
The President also plans to lay wreaths at the "On the Roads of War" monument in Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow and to meet with Soviet and Russian citizens who were awarded the titles Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic and Hero of Labor of the Mongolian People's Republic.
A military contingent from the Mongolian Armed Forces will participate in the Victory Day Parade.

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D.Ganbold: Natural gas pipeline project proceeding on schedule www.gogo.mn

D.Ganbold, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, provided updates on the construction of the Mongolia-Russia-China natural gas pipeline.
- Could you provide an update on the progress of the pipeline project?
-A trilateral working group has been established between the Government of Mongolia and Russia’s Gazprom open joint stock company, with Mongolia’s side led by the Deputy Prime Minister. The Mongolian side has fulfilled its responsibilities, and the project is progressing according to schedule and as planned. 
- Has China officially designated a representative company for the project?
-Following Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene’s visit to China during the Winter Olympics, a political agreement was reached. Relevant institutions at all levels are now working to implement the project.
- There were recent reports that Russia and China have not agreed on gas pricing. How does this affect the project?
-This project has been under discussion for many years. A political consensus has been reached, and implementation is moving forward. If the pipeline passes through Mongolia, it will bring significant benefits, including the ability to use natural gas in cities like Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, and Erdenet.
The 906 kilometer pipeline will be buried 2 to 3 meters underground, minimizing disruption to communities and avoiding above-ground construction. The pipeline will enter Mongolia at the northern border and exit at Zamiin-Uud, passing through six provinces. Its diameter is 1.42 meters.
- Will Mongolian companies be involved in the construction?
- Yes, Mongolian companies will participate as subcontractors, creating many job opportunities. Once operational, we will negotiate the quantity and delivery points of the natural gas, similar to turning on a tap for water.
- Does Mongolia need to build its own infrastructure to receive the gas?
- Yes, Mongolia must construct branch pipelines from the main line to deliver gas to households. Similar to building secondary roads from a main highway, this will be essential. Currently, households rely on bottled gas. The Ulaanbaatar city administration is expected to consider this in urban redevelopment plans, especially in ger districts.
- Thank you.

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2,265 hectares burn in fire caused by discarded ash www.gogo.mn

The dry seasons between March 10–September 10 and September 20–November 10 are officially designated as fire danger periods in Mongolia. 
In 2024, nine forest fire incidents were registered and investigated by the police, with cases forwarded to the courts. One such incident occurred on April 16, 2025, when a fire destroyed 2,265 hectares of land. The investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a resident of the soum, identified as “B” who carelessly disposed of ash outside. The fire caused environmental damage estimated at MNT 353.8 million.
The court sentenced the individual to one year of probation and ordered him to pay MNT 35 million in compensation for damages resulting from the negligent handling of flammable materials.
Police warned the public to avoid risky behaviors such as leaving ash in the open or carelessly discarding cigarette butts particularly during the spring and autumn dry seasons.

 

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Mongolia faces 60,000–70,000 cyber attacks every week www.gogo.mn

Mongolia is targeted by an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 cyber attacks each week, according to E.Enkhee, a cooperation specialist at the Public Center for Combating Cyber Attacks and Conflicts.
And noted that the global volume of cyber threats is steadily rising, and no country has been able to fully eliminate these risks. In this context, individual awareness and responsibility are essential for cybersecurity.
"Every citizen plays a role in prevention. Avoiding suspicious links, safeguarding personal information, and using licensed software are key to minimizing vulnerabilities," E.Enkhee stressed.
The specialist also highlighted recent cyber attacks on organizations such as Intermed Hospital and the Data bank. These incidents underscore the importance of protecting critical information infrastructure, including hospitals, mineral resources, telecommunications, and food production sectors.

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Mongolia’s ‘ambitious’ plan could boost tourism to 10% of GDP by 2030, says minister www.cnbc.com

Tourism could comprise 10% of Mongolia’s gross domestic product if the country can attract 2 million annual tourists by 2030, the country’s tourism minister told CNBC Wednesday.  
“We have a big, ambitious kind of goal, which is about 2 million tourists by 2030, which will be around a $4 billion contribution towards our GDP,” said Nomin Chinbat, Mongolia’s minister of culture, sports, tourism and youth.
Money from tourists currently makes up between 3%-4% of Mongolia’s GDP, she said.
The landlocked Asian country welcomed a record-breaking 808,000 foreigners in 2024, and interest continues to rise, especially among those seeking nature, adventure, culture and spiritual tourism, Chinbat said.
“Tourism numbers have been growing quite rapidly,” she said. “Year on year, growth has been around 9%. We’re wishing to increase it to 16%.”
Incoming flights from the US
United Airlines’ first flight to Mongolia landed Thursday night, an event Chinbat called a “milestone” for the country’s tourism industry.
Mongolia wants tourism to be 10% of GDP by 2030, minister says
“We’ve recently done a Mongolian tourism strategy with Boston Consulting Group, and one of the key aspects in order to improve our tourism industry is international connectivity, and especially from North America.”
She said Mongolia is hoping that the thrice-weekly flights, which land in Tokyo before departing for the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, will “at least the double” the number of U.S. visitors, which last year topped 22,000 people.
“The USA is one of our source markets, a market we’re working towards, and the fact that it is one airline, even though it’s connecting in Narita [Airport], it will make it much more convenient for people to be able to fly to Mongolia.”
Most inbound travelers to Mongolia hail from its neighboring countries of China and Russia, as well as South Korea.
Investing in infrastructure
Mongolia needs to invest $4 billion to build roads, hotels, camps and other infrastructure to support its burgeoning tourism industry, Chinbat said.
“The government is creating low-rate, long term loans for public and private entities to cooperate together in order to quickly increase the infrastructure,” she said.
As interest in visiting Mongolia rises, Chinbat said, the country’s biggest challenge is ensuring that the country grows in a sustainable way.
“We need to make sure that our natural resources are ... sustained. And on the other side, that locals benefits from the tourists coming into Mongolia too,” she said.
By Monica Pitrelli

 

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Does Mongolia Need an Aviation Fuel Deal With Russia? www.thediplomat.com

The proposed 20-year agreement has set off a firestorm within Mongolian politics, highlighting sensitive issues of dependency and neutrality. Mongolia is embarking on a major deal to secure a 20-year supply of aviation fuel from Russia. The goal of the agreement is to dodge fuel interruptions caused by external disturbances over which Mongolia has no control. Yet the Mongolian public and legislature view the deal as premature, and critics say the timing of the agreement may not best suit Mongolia’s national interest at the moment.  
Mongolia’s dependence on Russian energy is no secret: a whopping 97 percent of Mongolia’s fuel consumption depends on imports from Russia. So long as Mongolia’s economy runs on Russian energy, the government and businesses will remain closely attached to Moscow. For its part, Russia, as a major global energy supplier, needs Mongolia to remain as a consumer. Given the geographic proximity and Mongolia’s own immature energy sector, this is nothing new. 
But the recent aviation fuel deal has stoked controversy. The draft agreement stipulates that a joint state-owned company will be formed, with Mongolia’s state-owned Erchis Oil LLC owning 60 percent, and Russia’s state-owned Rosneft Aero owning the remaining 40 percent. The new joint venture will then be responsible for fuel storage, refueling operations, and the management of Chinggis Khaan International Airport’s jet fuel system. The time frame – the deal is set to run for 20 years – also raised some eyebrows not only from the Mongolian public but also from government officials and foreign policy pundits. 
Supporters of the agreement argue that securing a long-term deal with Russia is the best option – especially now, with global energy price fluctuations. Having a stable supply of aviation fuel is important to Mongolia’s efforts to boost tourism and expand international air travel. Having an uninterrupted supply of aviation fuel for the Chinggis Khaan International Airport might be just the first step. The draft agreement also includes a separate document that targets the uninterrupted supply of A92 and A80 diesel fuel. 
According to parliamentary data, Mongolia’s aircraft fuel consumption has grown rapidly in the past three years. Between 2021 and 2024, fuel consumption increased from 27,900 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes. This growth directly correlated with increased air traffic. According to some estimates, in 2024, passenger flights reached 91,800, up 44.6 percent compared to 2023, and cargo transportation grew by 21 percent. Supporters say that, given this increased demand, locking in a long-term supply is crucial for Mongolia.
But after Mongolia’s parliament approved the draft agreement on April 17, opposition gained steam. Protesters took to Ulaanbaatar’s Sukhbaatar Square, demanding the ousting of Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and his government for proposing agreements that critics say will further Mongolia’s dependency on Russia.
The opposition took particular issue with that the fact that the draft agreement included a clause stating that, in the event of a dispute between the parties, the matter will be resolved by the International Commercial Arbitration Court under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. 
There is also concerns about the potential backlash from Ulaanbaatar’s “third neighbors.” There are questions over the impact of international sanctions, especially when Russia is still actively at war with Ukraine. Foreign policy pundits questions whether the long-term deal will deepen Mongolia’s dependency on Russian energy, at odds with the government’s official aim to reduce dependency on foreign supplies.
In response to the criticism, Mongolia’s Minister of Industry and Minerals Tuvaan Tsevegdorj defended the draft agreement, which is the first of its kind. He said that Russia will be obligated to supply Mongolia under the agreement, even when there is a shortage or issues on Russia’s end. Tuvaan further explained that Mongolia’s doesn’t have a lot of alternatives when it comes to accessing aviation fuel. “In the short term, until we find and allocate the financials and the infrastructure to improve our situation, the deal with Russia can secure our industry for the next twenty years without interruptions,” the minister concluded.
The debate over whether Mongolia should sign a 20-year aviation fuel agreement with Russia touched on deeper questions, including issues of geopolitics, economics, and politicization. 
Geopolitically, Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine complicates Ulaanbaatar’s position on the world stage. From a foreign policy point of view, it may not be in Mongolia’s best interest to pursue a major deal with Russia at the moment. Signing a long-term agreement with Russia at a time when its energy companies are facing heavy sanctions in Europe and elsewhere could create the perception that Mongolia is aligning with the Russian bloc – and taking sides in great power competition is something Ulaanbaatar actively aims to avoid. 
On a bilateral level, however, Mongolia and Russia enjoy a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, built on their long historical ties. Supporters of the agreement say that it’s in Ulaabaatar’s interest to maximize the benefits from Mongolia-Russia bilateral relations, including a long-term deal to secure a low-priced fuel supply. 
Following the backlash, the Democratic Party caucus in the Mongolian parliament rejected the draft agreement. The caucus concluded that locking in a single supplier for the next 20 years is excessive and does not protect Mongolia’s national interest. 
On April 21, the draft agreement was rejected by the parliament’s Standing Committee on Economy and the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy, with 73.3 percent opposing it and just 7 percent in support. 
Legislators are calling for key changes to the proposed agreement, including shortening the term from the current 20 years, clarifying usage of the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, and enabling arbitration in Mongolia.
By Bolor Lkhaajav

 

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Mongolia needs to adopt greater fiscal prudence and enhance exchange rate flexibility to counter mounting trade tensions www.ubn.mn

Asia’s Outlook Dims Amid Trade Tensions: US tariffs have reached their highest levels in a century, with many of the steepest aimed at Asia. The region, which contributed nearly 60% of global growth in 2024, is now seeing its trade-led development model tested. Long reliant on liberalized trade and deep integration into global value chains, Asia faces mounting challenges as US-China tensions escalate and global trade policy becomes increasingly uncertain. While some tariffs have been paused, the overall climate of protectionism and weaker global demand is weighing heavily on regional prospects.
Against this backdrop, the economic outlook for Asia and the Pacific has dimmed significantly. Regional growth is forecast to slow to 3.9% in 2025, down from 4.6% in 2024—the sharpest downgrade since the pandemic. Advanced Asian economies are projected to grow by just 1.2%, while growth in emerging and developing Asia is expected to reach 4.5%, both reflecting downward revisions. China’s growth is set to remain around 4% despite fiscal stimulus, and ASEAN economies are particularly exposed, with growth downgraded to 4.1% amid external shocks and soft domestic demand. India, less reliant on trade, is expected to slow moderately but remain a relative outperformer.
Tariffs and rising trade barriers threaten to dent the region’s post-pandemic momentum, especially as many Asian economies depend on exports amid subdued domestic demand. High debt burdens and rising borrowing costs have also curbed consumer spending in several countries. While demand for high-tech exports—especially those linked to AI—has supported trade with the US and other advanced economies, this has also increased Asia’s vulnerability to shifts in US demand and the risks of intensifying protectionism.
Mongolia’s Economy Will Feel the Impact
While Mongolia is not directly involved in the ongoing tariff wars, it remains highly vulnerable to the ripple effects of escalating global trade tensions—particularly those between the United States and China. As China absorbs over 90 percent of Mongolia’s exports, mostly in minerals like coal and copper, any slowdown in Chinese demand due to tariffs or weakened industrial activity poses a direct threat to Mongolia’s economic growth and budget. Lower commodity prices, driven by heightened global uncertainty, could further erode national income, reduce government revenue, and widen external imbalances.
The growing uncertainty in global markets is likely to dampen investor confidence, especially in small, resource-dependent economies such as Mongolia. Weaker foreign investment would hinder progress on critical infrastructure, mining, and diversification projects—many of which are central to the coalition government’s development agenda. A decline in both export earnings and capital inflows would strain Mongolia’s external accounts and weigh heavily on its financial resilience.
These pressures are already felt through the exchange rate. Reduced foreign currency inflows have weakened the tugrik, raising the cost of imports such as fuel, machinery, and consumer goods. Mongolia could face rising inflation, eroding household purchasing power and forcing the central bank to tighten monetary policy further. In turn, higher interest rates could dampen domestic demand, compounding the economic slowdown.
Balancing Act for Policies to Counter the Vicious Cycle
The policy priority is to restore both external and internal balances and avoid a rapid erosion of policy buffers to prepare for future shocks.
Greater fiscal prudence and adherence to fiscal rules are needed. To avoid buffers from eroding and external imbalances from widening, the government should restrain demand for imports by containing current spending and strengthening collections of non-mining tax revenues. The planned cuts to non-mining taxation need to be reconsidered. The government needs to proceed cautiously on mega projects given existing weaknesses in public investment management and constraints in absorption capacity.
With rising inflation and credit growth, the BOM needs to maintain tight domestic financial conditions. A further increase in the policy rate is warranted to contain inflation and manage inflation expectations, while reserve requirements should aim to manage liquidity. The debt service-to-income limits of the non-bank financial sector should be harmonized with those of the banking sector to contain excessive growth in consumer credit and reduce regulatory arbitrage.
Amendments to the central bank law, including recapitalization plans, are critical to boost the BOM's operational independence, thus its effectiveness and credibility.
Finally, greater exchange rate flexibility would strengthen resilience against external shocks.
Tigran Poghosyan (IMF Resident Representative for Mongolia)

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United just flew where no US airline has gone: On board the historic inaugural flight to Mongolia www.thepointsguy.com

As a kid, I spent countless hours staring at maps: some of the United States, others of countries around the world.
In particular, I was drawn to places that seemed far-flung and fantastic — destinations that let me imagine a world far beyond the rural plot of Pennsylvania where I grew up.
Thailand. The Falkland Islands. South Africa. The more creative, the better.
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Today, I checked off one of the destinations that I once daydreamed about as a kid: Mongolia.
That came courtesy of United Airlines, which on Thursday flexed its own creativity by expanding its route map to become the first U.S. airline to launch regularly scheduled service to the remote Asian nation.
I was on board for the inaugural flight, which was a celebration and spectacle in and of itself, much like other inaugural flights from United and other big carriers.
Making United's service to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar particularly unique was the city where it took off.
United Flight 7 to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) didn't depart from a U.S. airport. It took off some 1,900 miles away at Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT), far from the airline's home country.
Gateside festivities
The launch of this new "fifth-freedom route" — an aviation term for a flight that neither departs nor lands in an airline's home country — drew a throng of roughly 200 people near Narita's Gate 32 for ceremonies that began nearly two hours before departure.
It kicked off with a large contingent of Japanese media peppering Patrick Quayle, United's senior vice president for global network planning and alliances, with a slew of questions. They covered everything from details on United's new NRT-UBN route to the carrier's effort to rebuild its Narita operation, which is now up to 11 nonstop destinations, as part of United's plan to revitalize its Japanese operation.
But it was the spectacle that followed that made this departure most unusual: destination-themed cupcakes, a sake barrel-breaking ceremony and a slew of photo ops, including several passengers who dressed up for the occasion.
A sizable percentage of the flight's passengers said they flew in specifically to be on the inaugural — AvGeeks or United enthusiasts who'd booked the flight specifically because it marked the adding of a new, and especially notable, pin on United's map.
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Craig Shipman from Chicago was one of those passengers.
"This is my first inaugural," he said, fresh off arriving in Tokyo from Chicago — just in time to catch the connection to Ulaanbaatar.
"Why not?" Shipman said. "I've never been to Mongolia, and it just worked out that I could go."
Jan Francke, a mining geophysicist from Victoria, British Columbia, was another.
A self-described "extreme" traveler frequently on the road, Francke said he incorporated the inaugural flight into a work trip he had to make to Mongolia anyway. Today, he said he enjoyed the excitement of the inaugural. Tomorrow, a nine-hour ride into the Mongolian countryside to meet clients awaits him.
But still others booked the flight by happenstance, realizing only by the hullabaloo at the gate that this was not just an ordinary flight.
These elaborate gate-side celebrations have become something of a tradition for United's inaugural route launches. Perhaps that's no surprise given the number of interesting new destinations the carrier has added in recent years under Quayle's route-planning leadership.
Ulaanbaatar joins Nuuk in Greenland, the Pacific island nation of Palau, Spain's Bilbao and Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on an expansion list that heavily leans into far-off destinations much more than those available from other North American carriers.
It may not be much of a surprise to learn that Quayle himself also loved to look at maps as a kid, something he says helped serve as inspiration for shaping United's route map.
"As a kid, I loved looking at maps," Quayle told me from seat 3F while we flew somewhere high above the Asian continent on our way to his carrier's newest destination. "The more far-flung or the harder it is to get to places — like the South Island of New Zealand or Tahiti or Mongolia or Cape Town, South Africa — I just had a yearn and a desire to go there. And being in this position, running the network at United, we have the ability to bring these destinations to our MileagePlus [loyalty] members. And really ... getting the flag carrier service, getting that United service to these far-flung destinations around the world."
There's a business case to be made, of course.
United flies to the most combined domestic and international destinations in the world. It's a key differentiator from its biggest competitors.
Having a slew of innovative destinations further enhances the appeal of its frequent flyer program — and those who might consider signing up for a cobranded credit card to help them get to those destinations.
But for Thursday, Quayle — along with myself and a large portion of those on board — felt more like wide-eyed kids checking off a long-dreamed-about bucket list destination.
Every passenger who boarded United's inaugural Mongolia flight received a swag bag of commemorative items that included pajamas made specifically for the flight, along with other trinkets like a postcard and a pin showing the U.S. and Mongolian flags.
Up in first class, where I spent Thursday's flight, commemorative teddy bears also greeted us.
Passengers snapped pictures and took videos as they boarded, continuing to swap stories and share their excitement ahead of visiting a remote, new destination.
Even some among United's Guam-based crew joined the excitement.
"I've never been on an inaugural before," I heard one flight attendant say as she handed out Champagne in the first-class cabin. "It's exciting. I can't wait."
The buzz continued as the plane taxied and took off from Tokyo (about five minutes behind schedule).
Shortly after takeoff, the initial excitement gave way to dimmed cabin lights and a calmer atmosphere.
Keep in mind, though, that while this is a far-away, new destination for United, the flight itself isn't a long-haul trek on a wide-body plane; it's roughly the distance between United's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) hubs.
As such, the aircraft on the route was a 23-year-old Boeing 737-800 — registration No. N35260 — that showed its age (among other things, the Wi-Fi did not work).
The meal service featured a special one-time menu that highlighted Mongolian-themed selections like Mongolian beef short ribs, gobi-style chicken and "Ulaanbaatar barley and vegetable stew."
I ordered the beef, which didn't photograph well, nor was it the best airline meal I've ever had. The chicken dish photographed better. I didn't taste it myself, though it also received tepid reviews.
A little over five hours into our journey, the crew announced we had begun our descent to Ulaanbaatar.
Passengers clapped upon landing, on the heels of a five-hour and 41-minute flight.
Booking your seat on United's Mongolia flight
Want to snag a seat on one of United's Tokyo-Ulaanbaatar flights yourself?
Tickets start at around $486 round-trip in economy, or $1,413 in business class. The good news is, award tickets are readily available over the next few months. Economy tickets start at 30,000 United MileagePlus miles plus around $29-$30 in taxes and fees in each direction, while business-class awards start at 45,000 miles plus the same taxes and fees each way. You can transfer Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a 1:1 ratio.
Depending on prices, it might be an even better deal using Air Canada Aeroplan points. You'll need just 12,500 points each way in economy (though with higher taxes and fees of about $76), or 35,000 points in business class. You can transfer points to Aeroplan from:
American Express Membership Rewards points
Bilt Rewards Points
Capital One miles
Chase Ultimate Rewards points
So it's easy to stock up on them, even if you don't have any currently banked.

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Przewalski’s Horse to Be Reintroduced to Numrug Strictly Protected Area Under the Auspices of the President of Mongolia www.montsame.mn

President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa received Director of the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic Miroslav Bobek and Lecturer at the Mongolian Studies Center of Charles University and Mongolist scholar Veronika Kapisovska.
At the meeting, President Khurelsukh underlined that for more than 30 years the Prague Zoo has made a valuable contribution to wildlife conservation in Mongolia, especially to the re‑introduction of Przewalski’s horse, and to strengthening the material base of the Administration of the Gobi Strictly Protected Area, building human capacity, and intensifying research activities.
The President expressed gratitude that the two sides agreed to cooperate on a new project to introduce Przewalski’s horses into the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Khalkhgol soum of Dornod aimag, to assess the ecosystems of the Gobi and dry steppe areas, to identify ecologically critical sites and place them under special protection, and to provide the necessary expert advice and assistance.
This meeting is one of the measures agreed during the State Visit of President Khurelsukh to the Czech Republic in March 2025, and shows that the initiatives discussed during that State Visit are being implemented. During the State Visit, President Khurelsukh toured the Prague Zoo and bestowed the name “Dagina” on a newly born Przewalski’s foal.
In March 2024, the Prague Zoo established a permanent “Mongolian Gobi” Exhibit, built a Mongol ger, and has since been regularly presenting a photo exhibition that showcases the process and results of the Przewalski’s horse reintroduction project.
It was also noted that, while serving as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel approved the transport of Przewalski’s horses to Mongolia by military aircraft, a decision that made a crucial contribution to the project’s success. As a result, the number of Przewalski’s horses in areas such as Khustai National Park and Khomyn Tal has now exceeded 1,000.

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