Oyu-Tolgoi Airport

Planned Replacement and Obsolescence. The original Oyu-Tolgoi Airport (MN-0002) was a temporary, unpaved (gravel) airstrip built to support the initial exploration and construction phases of the Oyu Tolgoi mine. It was not designed for long-term, all-weather operations or larger aircraft. It was officially closed and replaced by the newly constructed, permanent Khanbumbat Airport (ICAO: ZMKH, IATA: UBN), which features a 3,250-meter paved runway, modern navigation aids, and a terminal capable of handling larger jet aircraft like the Boeing 737. The new airport was built to meet the long-term, high-volume logistical needs of the fully operational mine.

The site of the former airport is now a decommissioned and defunct airstrip. Satellite imagery shows the gravel runway is still visible but is no longer maintained for aviation purposes. There are no airport markings, and vehicle tracks can be seen crossing the old runway. The land is located within the vast operational area of the Oyu Tolgoi mine and is controlled by the Oyu Tolgoi LLC mining company. It is effectively an abandoned piece of infrastructure, with the land likely repurposed for storage or other industrial uses related to the mine, or simply left unused.

The Oyu-Tolgoi Airport (MN-0002) was a critical piece of infrastructure during the establishment of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, one of the world's largest copper and gold deposits. From the early 2000s until its closure, this airstrip served as the primary air link to the remote South Gobi Desert site. It was essential for transporting thousands of personnel, including geologists, engineers, and construction workers, as well as time-sensitive cargo and essential supplies. Operations were typically handled by smaller, rugged turboprop aircraft, such as the Fokker 50 and Dash 8, which were capable of operating from the unpaved runway. The airport was the lifeline that enabled the development of a multi-billion dollar mega-project in an otherwise isolated and inaccessible region.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the old Oyu-Tolgoi Airport (MN-0002). Its function has been entirely and permanently superseded by the modern, far more capable Khanbumbat Airport (ZMKH), which is located just a few kilometers to the northwest. The new airport fully serves the needs of the mine and the surrounding community. Reopening the old, inferior airstrip would be redundant, uneconomical, and strategically unnecessary.