Chinese Air Cargo Transportation to Mongolia Airport

Which airports in China provide international cargo air services to Mongolian airports?

The airports in China that provide air freight services to Mongolia (mainly Ulaanbaatar Genghis Khan International Airport ULN) mainly include: Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET), Ordos Ikingholo International Airport (DSN), Erenhot Saiusu International Airport (ERL) (all located in Inner Mongolia, relying on geographical advantages to open direct routes, such as CA1021, O3765 and other transportation machinery, fresh and cross-border goods); Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) (Xinjiang, carrying energy equipment via CZ5007); Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) (Shaanxi, transiting Seoul via Korean Air); Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) (national hub, operating high-frequency routes such as CA1033 and MU7157, and connecting to international transit networks such as Seoul (Istanbul). Inner Mongolia Airport is the core channel, while other hubs cover Mongolia's freight demand through direct flights or intermodal transportation.

Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET): Located in Saihan District, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia, about 14.5 kilometers away from the city center, it is a 4E-class international airport with dual runways and a modern cargo terminal. The annual cargo throughput exceeds 50,000 tons, and it is the largest air cargo hub in Inner Mongolia. CA1021 (Hohhot → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 3 flights per week) operated by China International Cargo Airlines (CA) carries machinery and cross-border e-commerce cargo; OM202 (Hohhot → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 2 flights per week) operated by Mongolia Airlines (OM) carries fresh food and chemical products.

Ordos Ijinhoro International Airport (DSN): Located in Ijinhoro Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, adjacent to Genghis Khan Mausoleum, a 4E-class international airport with a single runway design and an annual cargo throughput of 38,000 tons, positioned as a regional international logistics node. SF Express Airlines (O3) operates O3765 (Ordos → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 2 flights per week), focusing on electronic products and cross-border e-commerce parcels. Zhongzhou Airlines (I9) operates I9450 (Zhengzhou CGO → Ordos DSN → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 1 flight per week), transporting light industrial products.

Erlianhot Saiusu International Airport (ERL): Located in Erlianhot, Inner Mongolia, a border port city between China and Mongolia, a 4C-class port airport with a single runway operation and an annual cargo and mail throughput of 12,000 tons. It is the core node of China-Mongolia land-air intermodal transportation. Mongolia Xiongnu Airlines (MR) 's MR301 (Erlianhot ERL → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 3 flights per week) transports building materials and livestock products.

Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC): Located in the new urban area of Urumqi, Xinjiang, it is a hub of the Central Asian aviation network. It is a 4E-level international airport with dual runways and an annual cargo throughput of 180,000 tons. China is opening its doors to the west. Southern Airlines Cargo (CZ) CZ5007 (Urumqi URC → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 2 flights per week) carries energy equipment and agricultural products, and Turkey Airlines (TK) TK6490 (Istanbul IST → Urumqi URC → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 1 flight per week) transfers precision instruments from Europe to Mongolia.

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY): Located in Weicheng District, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, it is the aviation hub of the northwest region, a 4F-level international airport, a three-runway system, with an annual cargo throughput of 450,000 tons, and a top 50 global cargo airport. Through Korean Air (KE) (Xi'an → Seoul → Ulaanbaatar, 7 flights per week), the transportation time is 4-6 days, suitable for auto parts and medical apparatus, with a single belly cargo capacity of 10-15 tons, supporting Xi'an Airport cargo collection + Seoul Airport distribution mode.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): Located in Shunyi District, Beijing, it is one of the three major aviation hubs in China. It is a 4F super airport with three runways in operation. Its annual cargo throughput exceeds 3 million tons, making it the second largest cargo airport in the world. CA1033 (Beijing PEK → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 4 flights per week) of China International Cargo Airlines (CA) mainly transports automotive parts and high-end equipment, while OM205 (Beijing PEK → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 3 flights per week) of Mongolia Airlines (OM) carries high-efficiency cargo between the capital cities. Korean Air (KE) operates KE852 (Beijing → Seoul → Ulaanbaatar, 1 flight per day), with a single cargo capacity of 35-40 tons, transporting clothing, electronic products, and cosmetics. The transit time in Seoul is 36 hours, and it can be combined with the warehouse distribution center at Incheon Airport. Russia Airlines (SU) operates (Beijing → Moscow → Ulaanbaatar, 5 flights per week), with a single cargo capacity of 60 tons, focusing on high-value goods such as automotive parts and aviation equipment. The whole journey takes 5-7 days, and door-to-door customs clearance services can be provided.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): Located in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, the core cargo hub of the Yangtze River Delta, a 4F-level airport, a four-runway system, with an annual cargo throughput of over 3.90 million tons, the world's third largest cargo airport. China Eastern Airlines Cargo (MU) MU7157 (Shanghai PVG → Ulaanbaatar ULN, 2 flights per week) stops in Hohhot (HET), transporting precision instruments and luxury goods.

Which airlines provide cargo services from China to Mongolia airports?

The airlines that provide cargo services from China to Mongolia airports mainly include: China International Cargo Airlines (CA) with Beijing and Hohhot as hubs, directly flying CA1033 (4 flights per week) and CA1021 (3 flights per week) to Ulaanbaatar to transport auto parts and cross-border e-commerce goods; Mongolia Airlines (OM) has opened direct flights from Hohhot and Beijing to Ulaanbaatar (OM202/OM205, 2-3 flights per week) to transport fresh food and high-efficiency goods; Zhongzhou Airlines (I9) operates a transit route from Zhengzhou to Ulaanbaatar via Ordos (I9450, 1 flight per week), focusing on light industrial products; Mongolia Xiongnu Airlines (MR) flies directly from Erenhot to Ulaanbaatar (MR301, 3 flights per week), relying on the advantages of border ports to transport building materials and livestock products; China Southern Airlines Cargo (CZ) flies directly from Urumqi to Ulaanbaatar (CZ5007, 2 flights per week), connecting to the Central Asian transit network to transport energy equipment; Korean Air (KE) transits from Beijing and Xi'an to Ulaanbaatar via Seoul (KE852, etc., 7 flights per day/week), carrying clothing and electronic products; China Eastern Airlines Cargo (MU) operates the Shanghai-to-Ulaanbaatar route via Hohhot (MU7157, 2 flights per week), focusing on high-value cargo transportation such as precision instruments.

China International Cargo Airlines (CA): Air China Cargo operates multiple direct cargo routes to Ulaanbaatar (ULN), Mongolia, with Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET) as hubs. Among them, CA1033 (Beijing PEK → Ulaanbaatar ULN) operates four flights per week, using all-cargo aircraft to transport heavy goods such as automotive parts and high-end equipment; CA1021 (Hohhot HET → Ulaanbaatar ULN) operates three flights per week, relying on the belly of the passenger aircraft to carry mechanical equipment and cross-border e-commerce goods. Both routes provide door-to-door customs clearance services, with a direct flight time of about 2.5 hours, meeting the high-efficiency logistics needs.

Mongolia Airlines (OM): Based at Ulaanbaatar Genghis Khan International Airport (ULN), Mongolia Airlines operates direct cargo routes OM202 (Hohhot HET → Ulaanbaatar ULN) and OM205 (Beijing PEK → Ulaanbaatar ULN) in China, with 2 and 3 flights per week, respectively. The route mainly transports fresh food, chemical products, and high-efficiency goods in the capital region through the belly hold of the aircraft, with a single cargo capacity of about 15-20 tons and a direct flight time of 2-3 hours, supporting the normalized transportation of cross-border e-commerce and trade goods between China and Mongolia.

Zhongzhou Airlines (I9): Zhongzhou Airlines has opened the I9450 (Zhengzhou CGO → Ordos DSN → Ulaanbaatar ULN) transit cargo route, with one flight per week, using the belly of the aircraft to connect the Central Plains region with the Mongolian market. The route mainly carries light industrial products (such as textile fabrics and small household appliances) from Zhengzhou and its surrounding areas. After a short stop in Ordos, it flies to Ulaanbaatar, with a total time of about 6 hours, providing a low-cost logistics solution for trade between the central region and Mongolia.

Mongolian Xiongnu Airlines (MR): As the main cargo carrier on the China-Mongolia border, Mongolian Xiongnu Airlines operates the MR301 (Erlianhot ERL → Ulaanbaatar ULN) direct flight route from Erlianhot Saiusu International Airport (ERL), with three flights per week, using the belly of the aircraft to transport bulk goods such as building materials and livestock products. Relying on the advantages of land and air transportation at Erlianhot Port, goods can be assembled from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and North China regions to Erlianhot by road, and then transported to Mongolia by air, with a single cargo capacity of about 10 tons, meeting the high-frequency logistics needs of frontier trade.

China Southern Airlines Cargo (CZ): With Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) as the westward hub, China Southern Airlines has opened the CZ5007 (Urumqi URC → Ulaanbaatar ULN) direct cargo route, with two flights per week, using the belly compartment of wide-body aircraft to transport energy equipment, agricultural products, etc. This route can connect China Southern Airlines' transit network in Central Asia and Europe, and transfer European precision instruments to Mongolia through Istanbul (Turkey Airlines TK6490). The whole journey takes 5-7 days, supporting multimodal transportation of cross-border goods along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Korean Air (KE): Korean Air has built a transit cargo network of "China → Seoul → Ulaanbaatar" through Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Among them, KE852 (Beijing PEK → Seoul ICN → Ulaanbaatar ULN) has one flight per day, with a single cargo capacity of 35-40 tons, transporting clothing, electronic products, cosmetics, etc. The transit time through Seoul is about 36 hours, and it can use the Incheon Airport warehousing and distribution center for consolidation. The flights from Xi'an to Ulaanbaatar (7 flights per week) through Seoul transit mainly focus on automotive parts and medical apparatus, with a single belly cargo capacity of 10-15 tons, supporting the "Xi'an consolidation + Seoul distribution" model.

China Eastern Airlines Cargo (MU): With Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) as the core, China Eastern Airlines operates the MU7157 (Shanghai PVG → Hohhot HET → Ulaanbaatar ULN) stopover cargo route, with two flights per week, using wide-body belly cabins to transport high-value goods such as precision instruments and luxury goods. The Shanghai-Hohhot section connects the national cargo flow, and the direct flight from Hohhot to Ulaanbaatar takes about 1.5 hours, with an overall delivery time controlled within 8 hours, providing "next-day delivery" services for high-end goods from the Yangtze River Delta region to Mongolia.

How long does it take for Chinese air cargo to arrive at Mongolian airports?

The fastest time for air cargo from China to Mongolia airport is about 2 days (direct flight + fast customs clearance, no inspection and complete documents), and the slowest may exceed 7 days (transit flight + customs clearance delay, affected by peak season, bad weather, document problems or cargo inspection, etc.). The transportation time varies depending on the method. Direct flights such as Beijing to Ulaanbaatar take about 2 hours, Hohhot to Ulaanbaatar takes about 1.5 hours, and transit flights take 12-36 hours due to connection time. Customs clearance usually takes 1-3 working days, and special cargo or inspection may be extended. In addition, winter snowstorms, holidays and other factors may further delay.

Direct flight transportation time

Direct flights are the most time-efficient mode of transportation, and the time mainly depends on the distance between the departure and landing airports and the flight schedule.

Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) → Ulaanbaatar Genghis Khan Airport (ULN) : Direct flights take about 2 hours, and cargo flights usually operate 2-3 times a week (such as Mongolia Airlines OM224 cargo flight).

Hohhot Baita Airport (HET) → Ulaanbaatar (ULN) : The flight takes about 1.5 hours, and some belly cargo flights are operated daily.

Transit flight transportation time

The connecting flight needs to consider the connection time and ground handling efficiency, and the overall timeliness fluctuates greatly. The cargo handling at the connecting airport needs to increase by 6-12 hours, and some hub airports (such as Dubai DXB) may take longer.

Beijing (PEK) → Seoul (ICN) → Ulaanbaatar (ULN), total duration is about 12-24 hours (including 4-8 hours of transit).

Shanghai (PVG) → Hong Kong (HKG) → Ulaanbaatar (ULN), the total duration is about 24-36 hours (including 8-12 hours of transit).

Customs clearance time

The customs clearance process in Mongolia is influenced by the type of goods, document integrity, and customs efficiency.

General cargo : Normally 1-3 working days (complete documents without inspection), if the documents are incorrect or require sampling inspection, it may be extended to 5-7 working days. Special cargo : Food/medicine requires health certificate and quarantine approval, customs clearance time is 3-5 working days, dangerous goods need to apply for special permission in advance, customs clearance time is 5-10 working days.

Special influencing factors

Peak season/holidays :

During the Naadam Festival in Mongolia (July) and around the Chinese New Year, customs clearance will be delayed by 3-5 days.

Winter snowstorms may cause Ulaanbaatar Airport to close (2-3 times a year, with delays of 24-72 hours).

Cargo type restrictions :

Lithium batteries/dangerous goods: require an additional 1-2 days for filing and approval.

Perishable goods: Priority should be given to arranging cabin space, otherwise the transit risk is extremely high.

Freight forwarding optimization suggestions

Transit optimization : Through the coordination of transit flights through the agency company, the transit time can be compressed from 24 hours to less than 8 hours.

Cold chain guarantee : For fresh goods, the agent company can apply for a "green channel" to ensure customs clearance within 1.5 hours.

Summary

Fastest time : direct flights + fast customs clearance (committal hearing documents, no inspection), transportation can be completed within 2 days (including flights, operations and same-day customs clearance).

Slowest time : transit flight + customs clearance delay (such as winter blizzard, Nadam Festival/Spring Festival peak season or document problems), may take more than 7 days (extreme cases due to transit detention or customs inspection).

What are the cargo charter flights from China to Mongolia Airport?

The cargo charter flights from China to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia mainly include: Air China CA901 flies directly from Beijing every day, Mongolia Airlines MI310 departs from Hohhot every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, Sichuan Airlines 3U3973 flies from Chengdu every Tuesday and Friday, Changlong Airlines GJ8723 departs from Xi'an every Sunday, and Mongolian National Airlines MN123 flies directly from Manzhouli to Ulaanbaatar every Monday and Thursday. These routes cover the transportation of fresh, high value-added industrial products, agricultural products, and resource goods, and provide special logistics support such as cold chain services and air-rail intermodal transportation. Some routes, such as the Beijing line, have a monthly cargo volume of up to 500 tons, and the Manzhouli line achieves one-hour fast customs clearance through green customs clearance.

Airline Information

Air China Cargo (Air China Cargo): Departing from Beijing Capital Airport, flight number CA901 operates daily direct flights to Ulaanbaatar, with the route segment being PEK-ULN.

Mongolia Airlines (MIAT Mongolian Airlines): Departing from Hohhot Baita Airport, flight number MI310 operates direct flights to Ulaanbaatar every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with the route segment being HET-ULN.

Sichuan Airlines (Sichuan Airlines): Departing from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, flight number 3U3973 operates direct flights to Ulaanbaatar every Tuesday and Friday, with the route segment being CTU-ULN.

Changlong Airlines (Loong Air): Departing from Xi'an Xianyang Airport, flight number GJ8723 operates direct flights to Ulaanbaatar every Sunday, with the route segment being XIY-ULN.

Mongolian National Airlines (Mongolian National Airlines): Departing from Manzhouli Xijiao Airport, flight number MN123 operates direct flights to Ulaanbaatar every Monday and Thursday, with the route segment being NZH-ULN.

Route Introduction

Beijing (PEK) - Ulaanbaatar (ULN) Route: Air China's CA901 route operates daily. Data from April 2025 shows that the monthly cargo volume exceeded 500 tons, accounting for 35% of the total air freight volume between China and Mongolia. Leveraging Beijing's hub advantage, this route offers "same-day delivery" service, primarily transporting fresh food and high-value industrial goods.

Hohhot (HET) - Ulaanbaatar (ULN) Route: Mongolia Airlines' MI310 route operates three times a week and is the only all-cargo charter flight route for exports in Inner Mongolia. Since resuming operations in 2024, a total of 34 flights have been operated, with export trade value exceeding 100 million yuan, mainly transporting fabrics, automotive parts, and LCD screens.

Chengdu (CTU) - Ulaanbaatar (ULN) Route: Sichuan Airlines' 3U3973 route operates twice a week. In collaboration with Chengdu Customs, it has launched "cold chain charter" services, reducing the transportation time of agricultural products such as Sichuan matsutake and saffron to 36 hours, with a damage rate controlled within 2%.

Xi'an (XIY) - Ulaanbaatar (ULN) Route: Changlong Airlines' GJ8723 route operates once a week. In partnership with Xi'an International Port Zone, it introduces "air-rail intermodal transport" services. Goods are transported from Xi'an Port to Erenhot Port via the China-Europe Railway, reducing total transportation costs by 20% compared to pure air freight.

Manzhouli (NZH) - Ulaanbaatar (ULN) Route: Mongolia National Airlines' MN123 route operates twice a week, utilizing Manzhouli Port's geographical advantages to transport resource goods such as coal and rare earths. In 2024, a "green customs clearance channel" was added, enabling customs clearance within 1 hour for shipments with complete documentation.

What is the air freight price from China to Mongolia airport per kilogram?

Air freight prices from China to Ulaanbaatar Airport in Mongolia vary depending on the route, airline, and cargo weight. For flights departing from Beijing, China International Airlines charges approximately 20 yuan/kg for 100kg+ and 12 yuan/kg for 1000kg+; Mongolia Airlines charges 22 yuan/kg and 15 yuan/kg respectively. For flights departing from Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines charges approximately 23 yuan/kg for 100kg+ and 16 yuan/kg for 1000kg+. For flights departing from Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines charges approximately 28 yuan/kg for 100kg+ and 20 yuan/kg for 1000kg+. For flights departing from Changsha, Mongolian Xiongnu Airlines charges approximately 25 yuan/kg for 100kg+ and 18 yuan/kg for 1000kg+. Actual costs also include a fuel surcharge of 8-15 yuan/kg, customs clearance fees of 200-500 yuan/ticket (for separate customs declaration), and potential handling fees. During peak seasons (June-August, December), prices may increase by 20%-30%, while off-season (March-May, September-November) prices are relatively stable. It is recommended to contact airlines or freight forwarders for real-time quotations based on cargo details (commodity name, weight, and whether it is special cargo).

Price Fluctuation Factors

Additional Costs:

Fuel Surcharge: In Q2 2025, it is approximately 8-15 yuan/kg, subject to real-time airline quotations.

Remote Area Surcharge: Ulaanbaatar Airport is not considered a remote area, but some freight forwarders may charge an additional 5-10 yuan/kg handling fee.

Customs Clearance Fee: Door-to-door service includes customs clearance; separate customs declaration requires an additional payment of 200-500 yuan per shipment.

Seasonal and Demand Factors:

Peak Season (June-August, December): Affected by tourism and holidays, capacity is tight, and prices may increase by 20%-30%.

Off-Season (March-May, September-November): Prices are relatively stable, allowing for potential discounts.