Eznis Airways

Eznis Airways
Изинис Эйрвэйз
IATA ICAO Callsign
EF EZA EZNIS
Founded 2006
Ceased operations 2014[1]
Hubs Chinggis Khaan Airport
Fleet size 3[2]
Destinations 5
Company slogan Fly ez, Fly smart!
Parent company Newcom Group[3]
Headquarters Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Key people George Cooper. (CEO)
Unenbat B. (CFO)
Hiroshi Kitahara S. (COO)[4]
Website eznisairways.com

Eznis Airways LLC (Mongolian: Изинис Эйрвэйз ХХК) was[1] a scheduled and charter airline based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It was the largest domestic airline with services to a number of Mongolian domestic points, with an international route to China and Russia. It also had authorization for, but does not yet operate, international services to Kazakhstan.[5]

History

In 2004, the Newcom Group, undertook feasibility research into starting up new domestic air transport services in Mongolia: in January 2006 they founded Eznis Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary. Eznis was granted Air Operator Certificate (AOC) No. 11 by the Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA),[6] and Eznis launched its inaugural service on December 6, 2006.[7]

From 2005 to 2006, Eznis pilots were trained and type rated at Ansett Training Center in Australia, followed by line training supervised by former Japan Air Commuter captains. Qantas provided emergency training for the cabin crew while Saab Aircraft AB provided maintenance type rating training for maintenance staff. Crew attended CRM training by Boeing and dangerous goods training by IATA. GE and Hamilton provided engine and propeller line maintenance training for Eznis technicians. Eznis has full insurance coverage on its aircraft, spare parts and liabilities provided by AON in London. Eznis employs approximately 200 staff.

In July 2008 Eznis Airways launched the Radixx computer reservation system: the airline intends to introduce Internet booking for tour operators, travel agencies and general public.

Eznis Airways has gained dominant position in the domestic air travel market of Mongolia and carried its 100,000th passenger in November 2008.

The airline began its first international regular services to Hailar, China in August 2009. In March 2010 Eznis Airways started operating flights to Hailar through Choibalsan in Dornod province of Mongolia.[8] Launched in June 2010, Ulan-Ude, Russia was Eznis' second scheduled international destination.[9]

Eznis Airways LLC ceased all operations from 22 May 2014 due to the financial difficulties and the current situation at the airline industry[10] after restructuring measures failed during the last two years.[1]

Corporate affairs

The head office was located in the Shine Dul Building (Шинэ Дөл Билдинг) in Bayanzürkh, Ulan Bator. The head office moved there on 27 August 2011.[11] With its main base located at Chinggis Khaan International Airport the airline sold tickets through the Central Ticketing Office in Ulaanbaatar, outstation branches in ten provinces of Mongolia, including Bayankhongor, Bayan-Ulgii, Dornod, Gobi-Altai, Khovd, Khuvsgul, Umnugobi, Uvs, Zavkhan as well as Hailar, China and Ulan-Ude, Russia.[12] In the addition, the carrier's tickets can be bought at travel agencies: AirTrans, AirTicket, AirMarket, AirLink, MonAirTour, AirChamber, AirTravel and AviaComMongolia.[13]

The airline’s name “eznis” means ‘easiness in flight’. The name consists of two parts which when put together say 'easy flight': the first two letters “ez” stand for “easy” in English and “nis” is a Mongolian word meaning “fly”. The Eznis logo represents a compass with eight destinations. A soft, flower-type image was chosen to give a relaxing and stress-free feeling to passengers.[14]

Destinations

Eznis Airways served the following destinations:

 People's Republic of China
 Mongolia

Fleet

Eznis Airways Saab 340B at Kharkhorin Airport
Eznis Airways Saab 340B at Dalanzadgad Airport

Eznis Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:[15][16]

Eznis Airways Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Routes Notes
C Y Total
Bombardier Q400 2 0 0 78 78 Domestic
Saab 340B[17] 1 Domestic
Total 3 0

In January 2009, the CEO of the airline Glen Pickard, stated[18] that Eznis Airways signed a LoI with Bombardier Aerospace for the purchase of 7 Bombardier CSeries aircraft, although this was never reported as official by Bombardier.[19]

The airline made the decision to introduce jet aircraft in early 2011 and 2 Avro RJ85 aircraft (both ex Lufthansa Cityline airframes) joined the fleet. The first was delivered from the UK in June 2011 (registered as JU-9909) with the second arriving in September 2011 (JU-9915). The aircraft were primarily destined to be used on charter flying to mining sites in the Gobi desert and were modified for operations on gravel runways. Both Avros remain in service although only one is now dedicated to the Ulaanbaatar - Oyut Tolgoi route. The aircraft were also used on services to the west of the country (Khovd, Ulaangom and Ulgii) but reducing load factors and unrealistic fare structures made the routes uneconomic for the RJs to operate. Consequently, the airline now looks to the Bombardier Dash8-Q400 to restore its economic fortunes on its longer range domestic routes while the Avros continue to provide the lift capacity required by the mining companies.

The Boeing 737 venture was short lived 4 month exercise for the company. It was leased with a view to EZNIS opening international routes to Seoul, Beijing and Hong Kong. However, Eznis' access to international routes was denied thereby making the Boeing 737 project unviable. Apart from operating a few charter flights, the aircraft never entered scheduled service.

Products and services

Products and services Description
Scheduled services Scheduled services to 14 domestic destinations within Mongolia and 2 international destinations
Charter services Charter services to a number of domestic and international points in China, Russia and Kazakhstan
Cargo and mail Cargo and mail transportation service to the airline's scheduled and charter destinations
EZ TOUR and EZ BIZ Special offers for organizational clients, tour operators and travel agents

Onboard services

The airline publishes a quarterly in-flight magazine "Smartway", in Mongolian and English languages, featuring articles about Mongolian nature, history, culture and tradition. The airline also offers Mongolian daily newspapers on its flights, and it sells items with the company name and logo. The items can be purchased during flight or from the airline's Central Ticketing Office in Ulaanbaatar.

Frequent Flyer Program

Eznis Airways launched EZ FLYER, the airline's frequent flyer program, from January 15, 2009. The programs provides passengers with an opportunity to earn free or discounted flights by collecting corresponding points from each flight taken: the customer is required to collect boarding passes and tickets from scheduled flights and turn them in for reward redemption.

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://ch-aviation.com/portal/news/28201-mongolias-eznis-airways-suspends-operations-indefinitely
  2. ↑ CH aviation Fleet, http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/EZN#al_profile_tab_fleet
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 80.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Eznis Airways fleet details". planespotters.net. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ http://www.flyeznis.com/statement
  11. ↑ "Head office move." Eznis Airways. Saturday 27 August 2011. Retrieved on 21 September 2011. "New Office location: Shine Dul Building Narnii zam 99A, 25-r kohoroo 13th Khoroolol, Bayanzurkh duureg Ulaanbaatar 13374, Mongolia" - Address in Mongolian: "Шинэ Дөл Билдинг, Баянзүрх дүүрэг, 13-р хороолол, 25-р хороо, Нарны зам 99А"
  12. ↑
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "Eznis Airways fleet details". planespotters.net. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Eznis Airways - Our Fleet". Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  17. ↑ Ch Aviation May 2014, http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/EZN#al_profile_tab_fleet
  18. ↑ "Eznis Airways news". 01.09.2009. Retrieved April 6, 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ↑ Bombardier Inc. (July 10, 2012). "airBaltic Signs Letter of Intent for up to 20 Bombardier CSeries Airliners". Airline not mentioned between customers.

External links

Media related to Eznis Airways at Wikimedia Commons

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