There’s an interesting new addition to Changi Airport’s passenger route map from this week, with the launch of non-stop flights between Singapore and Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, gateway to the Gobi desert and popular hiking and horse trekking expeditions in this fascinating off-the-beaten-track country.
The new link has been launched by MIAT Mongolian Airlines, with twice weekly flights on the seven-and-a-half-hour stretch, initially using narrow-body Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft but soon upgrading to wide-body service with the Boeing 767-300ER.
MIAT last served Singapore in 2014 with a twice-weekly one-stop Boeing 737-800 service to Ulaanbaatar via Beijing, though the route was short-lived and ended by mid-2015. The airline has therefore been missing from Changi’s departure boards for over a decade.
The schedule
During its first month, the route will be one of Singapore’s longest operated by a narrow-body aircraft, with MIAT deploying its 168-seat Boeing 737-8 MAX, after the inaugural service earlier this week, which was operated by a wide-body Boeing 767-300ER.
Singapore ↔ Ulaanbaatar
4th November 2025 – 29th November 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
OM1724 737-8 MAX^ |
||||||||
| SIN 19:25 |
UBN 02:55* |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:30 | |||||||||
|
OM1723 737-8 MAX^ |
||||||||
| UBN 09:30 |
SIN 16:55 |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:25 | |||||||||
^ 767-300ER on 4th November 2025, for the launch service
* Next day
From December 2025 onwards, the carrier’s sole 252-seat Boeing 767-300ER takes over the route.
Singapore ↔ Ulaanbaatar
From 2nd December 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
OM1724 767-300ER |
||||||||
| SIN 19:25 |
UBN 02:55* |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:30 | |||||||||
|
OM1723 767-300ER |
||||||||
| UBN 09:30 |
SIN 16:55 |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:25 | |||||||||
* Next day
Operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays, MIAT’s service departs Singapore in the evening, touching down in Ulaanbaatar just before 3am the following day (ouch!). The return leg is more civilised, a daytime flight leaving the Mongolian capital at 9.30am and arriving into Changi shortly before 5pm.
MIAT is using Terminal 4 at Changi Airport, which includes the Blossom Lounge for those departing in Business Class or holding a lounge access membership like Priority Pass or DragonPass.
Visiting Mongolia
Mongolia is certainly an off-the-beaten-track destination for more adventurous tourists, but the benefit of these non-stop MIAT flights is the ability to reach the country in just 7.5 hours, while the shortest indirect routings from Changi take at least 10 hours each way, with transit typically in Beijing, Hong Kong or Seoul.
(Photo: Yerru Lodge)
Mongolia remains one of Asia’s least-travelled countries, with huge swathes of untouched landscapes, nomadic culture, and adventure tourism.
Singapore citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Mongolia, for trips of up to 30 days, with many other nationalities also benefiting from visa-free access, including:
- Malaysia: 30 days
- Hong Kong: 14 days
- UK: 30 days
- USA: 90 days
- Australia: 30 days
- New Zealand: 30 days
For a full up-to-date list, check this section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia website.
MIAT’s Boeing 767
Passenger Boeing 767s are a rarity in Singapore, most are freighters these days, and many of our readers would probably assume MIAT’s aircraft is therefore an ageing model.
(Photo: TJ Darmstadt)
In fact, this particular Boeing 767-300 was delivered new to the airline on 13th May 2013, as the fifth-to-last passenger Boeing 767-300ER ever built. After that, three were delivered to Air Astana and one to Uzbekistan Airways, but all subsequent deliveries of new 767s have been freighters or tanker conversions.
At 12.6 years of age, it’s equivalent to stepping on board 9V-SWU, SIA’s eighth-youngest Boeing 777-300ER, and is two years younger than 9V-SKN, one of SIA’s Airbus A380s.
Unfortunately the aircraft has rather dated angle-flat seats in Business Class in an unusual 2-1-2 configuration, thanks to the Boeing 767’s narrow fuselage.
(Image: aeroLOPA)
One thing you might notice from the seat map, however, is that does mean there are three rather unique ‘throne’ seat options in the middle, with dual aisle access.
(Photo: YourTravel.TV)
While that’s great for solo travellers, most couples will opt for the pair seats by the window.
(Photo: Aviacionline)
Economy Class is in a 2-3-2 layout, which is nice for couples who should still have the option of pair seats by the window.
Fares
At the time of writing, MIAT is offering the following round-trip fares to Ulaanbaatar, based on travel in December 2025:
- Economy Class: From S$845
- Business Class: From S$2,945
Using miles and points
MIAT Mongolian Airlines runs its own frequent flyer programme, Blue Sky Mongolia, but currently does not allow redemption of its flights with any other airline’s miles that we are aware of.
You’ll also only be able to accrue the airline’s own miles when you book a cash ticket – despite partner relationships with Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Turkish Airlines, these do not currently extend to reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.
Redeeming more widely-held miles currencies to reach Mongolia from Singapore usually means using Asiana, Air China or Korean Air, and accepting a connecting itinerary.
Summary
Singapore’s new non-stop link to Ulaanbaatar is a rare addition to Changi Airport’s route map. With a flight time of just 7.5 hours, MIAT Mongolian Airlines now offers non-stop flights on the route for the first time, a convenient alternative to the longer connecting flights through Beijing, Hong Kong, or Seoul.
It’s another option for adventurous travellers who’ve always wanted to visit this fascinating country.
The transition from the Boeing 737-8 MAX to the 767-300ER from December 2025 provides passengers with a wide-body experience, and even though Business Class remains a simple angle-flat product it does include rare ‘throne’ seats with dual aisle access.
(Cover Photo: Yang Shuo)