Eznis Airways

Eznis Airways originated in a feasibility study conducted by Newcom Group in 2004 into the development of additional domestic air transport services in Mongolia. The group incorporated Eznis Airways as a wholly owned subsidiary in January 2006. The airline received Air Operator Certificate No. 11 from the Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority and operated its inaugural flight on 6 December 2006. During its first expansion phase, Eznis built a domestic network connecting Ulaanbaatar with several Mongolian provincial centres. Its growth addressed the practical difficulty of travelling across Mongolia by road and helped establish the company as a major domestic airline. By 2008, the carrier had transported its 100,000th passenger. It also invested in distribution and customer-retention infrastructure: the Radixx reservation system was introduced in July 2008, and the EZ FLYER frequent-flyer programme began in January 2009. The airline’s international expansion started in August 2009 with scheduled service to Hailar in China. In March 2010, the service was operated through Choibalsan in eastern Mongolia. Ulan-Ude in Russia became another scheduled international destination in June 2010. Eznis received or pursued authorization for additional international markets, but route permissions did not automatically translate into regular operations. Aircraft strategy changed as the airline attempted to serve both domestic communities and corporate charter customers. Its fleet included Saab 340 and DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops. In 2011, two Avro RJ85 aircraft joined the fleet. These aircraft were used for some domestic routes and were adapted for charter missions connected with mining sites in the Gobi, including operations from gravel runways. Eznis also evaluated jet expansion. A proposed Bombardier CSeries acquisition was reported as a letter of intent rather than a completed order. A Boeing 737-700 was subsequently associated with plans for international routes, but restricted access to international markets made the project commercially impractical; apart from limited charter activity, the aircraft did not become the basis of a sustained scheduled network. The airline moved its head office to the Shine Dul Building in Bayanzürkh, Ulaanbaatar, in August 2011. It sold tickets through a central Ulaanbaatar office, provincial branches, and travel agencies. Its brand identity was based on the idea of an easy or stress-free flight: “ez” referred to “easy,” while “nis” is a Mongolian word related to flying. The logo used compass imagery associated with multiple destinations. Eznis experienced mounting financial and operating pressures. Domestic routes served by larger regional jets proved difficult to sustain when passenger loads and fare structures did not support the cost of operation. After two years of restructuring efforts, the airline suspended all operations on 22 May 2014. The shutdown was attributed to the company’s financial difficulties and unfavourable conditions in the airline industry. A new ownership group later sought to revive Eznis. The airline relaunched in the second quarter of 2019 with Boeing 737 equipment and a stated emphasis on international routes. Subsequent information indicates that the post-relaunch operation was much smaller than the earlier domestic network. As of June 2024, the documented scheduled network consisted of a route between Ulaanbaatar and Prague. Fleet information supplied for 2025 states that the airline’s sole Boeing 737-700 had been stored since 9 March 2025. The available evidence does not establish whether Eznis remains actively operating, and the airline’s current status therefore requires verification.

• 2025

  Boeing 737-700 reported stored

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Available fleet information reports that the airline’s sole Boeing 737-700 had been stored since 9 March 2025.

• 2019

  The airline is relaunched

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Eznis resumed operations under a new ownership group, with Boeing 737 aircraft intended for international flying.

• 2014

  Operations cease

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Eznis suspended all operations on 22 May after restructuring efforts did not resolve its financial and industry-related difficulties.

• 2011

  Avro RJ85 aircraft enter the fleet

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Two Avro RJ85 aircraft joined the fleet for selected domestic and mining-related charter operations.

• 2010

  Ulan-Ude becomes an international destination

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Eznis began scheduled flights to Ulan-Ude, Russia, and operated Hailar service through Choibalsan on some schedules.

• 2009

  International service and EZ FLYER

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline launched EZ FLYER and began scheduled international service to Hailar, China.

• 2008

  Reservation system and passenger-scale milestone

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Eznis introduced the Radixx reservation system and carried its 100,000th passenger.

• 2006

  Eznis Airways is founded

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Newcom established Eznis Airways as a wholly owned subsidiary in January, and the carrier began flying on 6 December after receiving its air operator certificate.

• 2004

  Newcom studies a new Mongolian domestic airline

  [1]Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Newcom Group undertook feasibility research into expanding domestic air transport services in Mongolia.

A Mongolian regional airline built around domestic connectivity, remote-area access, and charter capability, with periodic attempts to expand into international scheduled and charter markets.

• Passenger air transport · 2006

  Domestic scheduled passenger services

  Eznis’s original core business was scheduled air travel between Ulaanbaatar and Mongolian provincial centres. The network served the country’s widely dispersed population and offered a faster alternative to long overland journeys. The airline became one of Mongolia’s largest domestic operators during its first operating period, although some longer domestic routes later proved uneconomic because of low load factors and fare constraints.

• Passenger air transport · 2009

  International scheduled services

  The airline expanded internationally with service to Hailar in China in 2009 and Ulan-Ude in Russia in 2010. It also considered or received authorization for other international markets, but regulatory access and commercial limitations restricted the scale of the network. Post-2019 material records a later Ulaanbaatar–Prague service.

• Charter aviation · 2011

  Mining and remote-site charter services

  Eznis used regional jets and other aircraft for charter flying associated with mining operations in Mongolia’s Gobi region. The Avro RJ85 aircraft were adapted for the conditions of remote airfields, including gravel runways, and were intended to provide capacity for corporate and industrial customers.

• Frequent-flyer programme · 2009

  EZ FLYER

  EZ FLYER was introduced in January 2009. Members accumulated points based on eligible scheduled flights and could exchange qualifying travel records and points for free or discounted flights.

• In-flight media

  Smartway

  Smartway was a quarterly bilingual in-flight magazine published in Mongolian and English. Its editorial focus included Mongolian nature, history, culture, and traditions. The airline also provided Mongolian daily newspapers and sold branded merchandise onboard and through its central ticketing office.

• 2019

  International relaunch with Boeing 737 equipmentStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2014 shutdown, a new ownership group sought to revive the airline and reposition it around international operations.

  Action taken

  Eznis resumed operations in the second quarter of 2019 with plans to use Boeing 737 aircraft on international routes.

  Aftermath

  The later documented network was limited, and the available 2025 fleet information reports the airline’s sole Boeing 737-700 as stored.

  Source

• 2014

  Suspension of all operationsStrategy

  Background

  Financial difficulties and adverse conditions in the airline industry continued after two years of restructuring measures.

  Action taken

  Eznis Airways ceased all operations on 22 May 2014.

  Aftermath

  The brand remained dormant until a new ownership group relaunched the airline in 2019.

  Source

• 2011

  Shift toward regional jets and mining chartersStrategy

  Background

  Eznis sought additional capacity for longer domestic routes and for charter work serving mining locations in the Gobi.

  Action taken

  The airline introduced two Avro RJ85 aircraft and modified them for operations connected with remote and gravel-runway airfields.

  Aftermath

  The aircraft were used on selected domestic and charter operations but were retired in 2013 as the airline reassessed fleet economics.

  Source

1. 1Eznis Airwaysen.wikipedia.org