ACIA Aero Leasing delivers an ATR 72-600 to Chingis Airlines Unity, Mongolia

ACIA Aero Leasing announced the delivery of an ATR 72-600 passenger aircraft on lease to Chingis Airlines Unity in Mongolia. Chingis Airlines Unity are owned by the NOMIN Group, one of Mongolia’s largest and most diversified private companies. Founded in 1992 the NOMIN Group has grown into a major conglomerate with business subsidiaries across retail, trade & distribution, banking & insurance, construction & real estate, IT and now aviation. The group has a large footprint of retail outlets across Mongolia ranging from hypermarkets and supermarkets through to local bank branches and retail outlets. It employs over 6,000 people and plays a key role in the growing Mongolian economy.

Chingis Airlines Unity has been established to improve regional connectivity across the vast geographical expanse of Mongolia where the population density is often thin and remote. In addition, they will utilise the exceptional performance capabilities of the ATR72-600 to operate into unpaved runways, particularly in support of the fast-growing mining sector.

Mick Mooney, ACIA’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are delighted to add Chingis Airlines Unity to our growing portfolio of lessees, as they open regional connectivity across Mongolia. The services they will operate are in the best definition of true essential services and the ATR is the most economical solution to service this important mission. The country is also going through a rapid transformation, as its economy grows, not least through the expansion of the highly important, but largely untapped, mining sector.”

Mark Dunnachie ACIA’s SVP Commercial stated: “The ATR72-600 is perfectly adapted for the rugged operations of Mongolia. The extreme weather conditions of the country, ranging from the coldest capital city on Earth (Ulaanbaatar), through to the hot and dry summers of the Gobi Desert, require a resilient and reliable aircraft platform. Combine this with the flexibility to operate into both paved and unpaved strips and the ATR72 ticks all the boxes. We look forward to further developing our relationship with the airline as they grow their fleet and business.” 

Bayarsaikhan Shagdarsuren, Chairman of the Nomin Group said: “Previously, air services operated to 330 soums (towns/counties) across Mongolia. Today, that number has declined significantly, with flights serving only 8–9 destinations. We are committed to restoring and expanding regional air connectivity as part of our strategic priorities.” 

Ganbold Namsraijav, Chief Executive Officer Chingis Airlines Unity added: “The selected aircraft, the ATR72-600, offers a distinct advantage with its turboprop configuration, enabling operations on unpaved runways, an essential factor in expanding the reach of regional air services across Mongolia. We also plan to introduce a second aircraft in June of this year. This new initiative aims to stimulate the domestic aviation market by providing passengers with greater choice and more affordable travel options. Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our operations, launching international routes, and establishing ourselves as a competitive and reputable airline in the regional market.”