5 interesting facts about the national airline

Summary

• Air Koryo offers international flights to China and Russia, including Beijing, Shenyang and Vladivostok.
• Air Koryo’s fleet consists of Antonov An-148/An-158 and Tupolev Tu-204 jets.
• Air Koryo changed its livery in early 2024 and removed references to Korean reunification from its logo.

After nearly five years of being closed to foreigners due to the Covid pandemic, the reclusive country of North Korea is finally reopening a city to foreign tourists in December. At least two China-based tour operators can once again bring tourists to the mountainous northern city of Samjiyon (China has approved resuming flights to Pyongyang in 2023). Here are five interesting facts about Air Koryo – North Korea’s national airline (travelers should note, however, that Americans are typically banned by the State Department from visiting North Korea).

1 International flights to China and Russia

Air Koryo operates three to four international routes

According to URI Tours, Air Koryo only offers international flights to the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shenyang and Shanghai, as well as the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. In the past, the airline also offered scheduled flights between Bangkok (Thailand) and Macau, as well as Kuwait. There were also charter flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and some other countries.

Air Koryo’s website lists flights to Vladivostok, Beijing and Shenyang. The flight to Russia’s Vladivostok costs 229 USD, while flights to Beijing (1,760 CNY, about 245 USD) and Shenyang (1,180 CNY, about 165 USD) are offered in Chinese rimibi format (prices excluding taxes). Air Koryo may no longer offer flights to Shanghai.

2 Air Koryo flies with Antonov and Tupolev jets

Air Koryo has two An-148/An-158 and two Tu-204

According to Planespotters.net, Air Koryo has a fleet of four aircraft. These include two Antonov An-148/An-158 (average age 10.7 years) and two Tupolev Tu-204 (average age 23.3 years). A-148s are Ukrainian regional jets built by Antonov in Ukraine. Their first flight was in 2004 and they were introduced in 2009. The An-158 first flew in 2010 and is an extended fuselage version of the An-148. The An-148 can carry 68-85 passengers, the An-158 can seat up to 100 passengers.

The Tupolev Tu-204 is a medium-range, twin-engine, narrow-body jet aircraft introduced in 1989. Its first flight took place in the final years of the Soviet Union and it was essentially intended as a competitor to the Boeing 757. In the 1990s, it replaced the medium-range, three-engine Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft.

3 Air Koryo has a new paint job

Air Koryo changed its livery in 2024

In late 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea no longer seeks unification with South Korea. Officially, both governments claim to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, and both have long sought (at least officially) reunification. The terms “North” and “South” are colloquial. North Korea is officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and South Korea is officially the Republic of Korea.

After Kim Jong Un announced that the North would no longer seek unification with the South, Air Koryo 2024 began changing its crane logo. The old crane logo had wings that resembled the Korean peninsula as a unified state. The new stylized crane wings now consist of tapered horizontal lines that no longer resemble the Korean peninsula.

4 Air Koryo is partially banned in the EU

Air Koryo was completely banned from the EU between 2006 and 2020

Air Koryo is not allowed to fly any of its aircraft in the European Union, with the exception of the Tupolev Tu-204 (the only aircraft that meets EU safety standards). The EU Aviation Safety List includes many airlines from all over the world that have been banned from flying in the EU. In 2021, nearly 100 airlines from dozens of countries were banned from flying (e.g. Iran, Sudan, Libya, Nepal), and the list was significantly expanded in 2022 after Russian airlines were added to the banned list.

In 2019, the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) still listed it as a “safe” airline on the register – even though the EU imposed flight bans anyway. It is unclear when the EU will lift its flight ban on the airline, but given the political environment and the strict sanctions against North Korea, it could be a long time coming.

5 VIP Ilyushin Il-62M

Air Koryo has two VIP Il-62M

Air Koryo also operates two Ilyushin Il-62M jets as VIP transport for the North Korean government. One of these jets is the private jet of the ruler Kim Jong Un, which is painted all in white. The Russian government also uses Ilyushin Il-62M jets. Ilyushin Il-62s are no longer in use as passenger aircraft.

Air Koryo received its first long-range Ilyushin Il-62 in 1979 during the Cold War, and two of the aircraft were given a VIP configuration. North Korea is believed to have four Il-62Ms, but some of them may not be operational. Il-62s are easily recognized by the four engines mounted on the rear of the aircraft.