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Air Koryo

Democratic People's Republic of Korea · AIR KORYO

Routes

Hubs

KOR

ICAO

IATA

TravelerPulse profile

North Korea's national flag carrier serving international routes.

Founded

1950

Headquarters

Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Air Koryo is the national airline of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and operates as the country's sole carrier. Founded in 1950, it is one of the oldest airlines in Asia and serves a limited number of international destinations, primarily to China and Russia, reflecting the country's restricted diplomatic and economic relationships. The airline is headquartered in Pyongyang and operates out of Sunan International Airport. Air Koryo has long been subject to international scrutiny due to North Korea's political isolation, and it has historically received the lowest possible safety rating from aviation auditors. The European Union banned Air Koryo from operating in EU airspace, a restriction that remained in place for many years. Despite its limitations, Air Koryo operates a mixed fleet of Soviet-era and more modern Russian aircraft, and has made some efforts to modernize in recent decades. The airline also maintains domestic routes within North Korea and offers limited charter services.

Hubs & network

Air Koryo's primary hub is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ), which serves as the base for all international and domestic operations.

Fleet

Air Koryo operates a mixed fleet including Tupolev Tu-204, Ilyushin Il-18, Ilyushin Il-62, and Antonov An-24 aircraft, with older Soviet-era types gradually being retired.

Notable facts

›Air Koryo is the only North Korean airline and operates as a state-owned enterprise.
›It has received a 1-star rating from Skytrax, the lowest possible rating, for multiple consecutive years.
›The European Union banned Air Koryo from operating flights within EU airspace due to safety concerns.
›Air Koryo operates one of the world's most restricted international route networks, primarily serving Beijing and Vladivostok.
›The airline was originally established in 1950 as SOKAO before being renamed Air Koryo.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.

Primary hubs

Pyongyang Sunan International AirportFNJ · 4 rts Kuala Lumpur International AirportKUL · 1 rts Beijing Capital International AirportPEK · 1 rts Shenyang Taoxian International AirportSHE · 1 rts Vladivostok International AirportVVO · 1 rts

Route network map (8 legs)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Route network

FNJ → KULT20

FNJ → PEKA81 T20

FNJ → SHET20

FNJ → VVOT20

KUL → FNJT20

PEK → FNJA81 T20

SHE → FNJT20

VVO → FNJT20

Fleet (aircraft types operated)

Tupolev Tu-2048 routes Antonov An-1482 routes

Encyclopaedia

Air Koryo is North Korea's flag carrier and only commercial airline. It is state-owned and controlled by the North Korean air force. Headquartered in Sunan-guyŏk, Pyongyang, it operates domestic and international routes – on a regular schedule only to Beijing, Shenyang, and Vladivostok – from its hub at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport. It also operates flights on behalf of the North Korean government, with one of its aircraft serving as North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un's personal plane. Its small fleet consists of Ilyushin and Tupolev aircraft from the Soviet Union and Russia, and Antonovs from the Soviet Union and Ukraine.

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