Mongolia's Hunnu Air

ULAANBAATAR, September 29, 2026 — Regular direct flights connecting the capitals of Mongolia and India began on September 28, 2026, significantly cutting travel time between the two countries compared with previous connecting-flight options.

Mongolian carrier Hunnu Air operated its inaugural Ulaanbaatar–New Delhi–Ulaanbaatar service on September 28. The flight landed at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 7:20 a.m. and departed for Ulaanbaatar at 4:37 p.m. the same day. According to the Embassy of India in Mongolia, the direct journey between the two capitals takes approximately five hours.

Travel time reduced from 13–18 hours to around five

Before the launch of the direct service, passengers traveling between Mongolia and India generally had to connect through cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong or Incheon, with total journey times of approximately 13–18 hours. The new route brings that travel time down to about five hours.

Under Hunnu Air’s official schedule, flight MR301 departs Ulaanbaatar for Delhi every Monday at 3:30 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 a.m. Return flight MR302 departs Delhi every Monday at 8:00 a.m. and arrives in Ulaanbaatar at 4:00 p.m. The schedule is valid from September 28, 2026, to March 27, 2027, although the airline has noted that it may be subject to change.

New opportunities for medical travel and business

According to the Indian side, the new direct service will facilitate not only tourism but also medical travel, business trips, trade and cargo transport. By reducing the time and costs associated with connecting flights, direct air links could support trade and business ties between the two countries.

For Mongolia, India is an important destination not only for tourism but also for education, healthcare and religious and cultural exchanges. During President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh’s state visit to India in 2025, the two sides discussed expanding their strategic partnership and increasing cooperation in the economy, education, tourism and other sectors.

The Embassy of India said the new service could support religious and cultural tourism from Mongolia to sites linked to India’s Buddhist history and heritage, as well as winter tourism to Mongolia from India.

A new link in bilateral relations

Mongolia and India marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. The two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2015, and reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding it during the 2025 state visit.

The direct-flight initiative was also discussed during President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh’s state visit to India in October 2025. During the visit, the Mongolian side highlighted the importance of developing direct air links with India to strengthen people-to-people ties and boost tourism.

The Embassy of India said cooperation between India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Mongolia’s Ministry of Roads and Transport, and other stakeholders played an important role in launching the new regular service.

Mongolia’s air network expands toward South Asia

The Ulaanbaatar–New Delhi route is a new link connecting Mongolia’s aviation network directly with a major South Asian market, in addition to its existing links with East and Central Asia.

The route is currently scheduled to operate once a week. However, the establishment of a regular direct service opens a new channel for growth in passenger traffic, tourism, education, healthcare and business ties between the two countries.

For Mongolia, this is more than a new flight connecting two capitals. It represents a new infrastructure step toward linking the strategic partnership that has expanded over many years with India more directly at the level of people, businesses and tourism.