Carnoc From China, joined Oct 2001, 875 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3094 times:
On Nov. 5, Air China announced that the airline will launch Beijing-Pyongyang route on Jan. 2, 2008, flying three times per week (Wed, Fri, Sun). This new service means that the airline's international operations (including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR) will be increased to 72 routes.
Carnoc From China, joined Oct 2001, 875 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2954 times:
Quoting Leskova (Reply 2): While not a great many, North Korea does attract tourists - and there's a, admittedly, limited amount of business travel in and out...
Correct. Also let's not forget the increasing number of government officials not only from China and North Korea but also other parts of the world. In order to get to North Korea for foreign officials, most of them have to go to Beijing first, then fly from Beijing to Pyongyang.
Swissgabe From Switzerland, joined Jan 2000, 5265 posts, RR: 37 Reply 5, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2670 times:
Quoting Carnoc (Thread starter): On Nov. 5, Air China announced that the airline will launch Beijing-Pyongyang route on Jan. 2, 2008, flying three times per week (Wed, Fri, Sun). This new service means that the airline's international operations (including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR) will be increased to 72 routes.
The route was already operated by different Chinese Airlines before, mostly only seasonal during Summer period. If not mistaken, China Northern and China Eastern flew that route, sometimes as PEK-FNJ and PEK-DLC-FNJ vv.
Quoting 747WanSui (Reply 4): I wonder if I would be allowed in, as I already have a US Green Card along with my Chinese passport...
You can obtain DPRK visa as long as you have any passport except US and ROK.
Quoting Robbie86 (Reply 1): Is there any idea to serve a country where people can't get in or out?
Do you really think they would fly that route if there wouldn't be any?!
Smooth as silk - Royal Orchid Service /// Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens - Springbok
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2661 times:
Right now Air Koryo is THE option...and it's a fine airline, but Westerners take some fear in their old aircraft, or so I have experienced. I think this is smart, and I think they will do well, especially with Westerners.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11128 posts, RR: 63 Reply 7, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2617 times:
Quoting Swissgabe (Reply 5): The route was already operated by different Chinese Airlines before, mostly only seasonal during Summer period. If not mistaken, China Northern and China Eastern flew that route, sometimes as PEK-FNJ and PEK-DLC-FNJ vv.
That was the case, I thought it was only China Northern with MD80s, but interesting to learn the MU also served Pyongyang.
Quoting SW733 (Reply 6): Right now Air Koryo is THE option...and it's a fine airline, but Westerners take some fear in their old aircraft, or so I have experienced. I think this is smart, and I think they will do well, especially with Westerners.
Shame people are afraid of them - one of the best active fleets out there! Il-18, Il-62, Tu154 all fly on the Beijing route.
Aviasian From Singapore, joined Jan 2001, 1453 posts, RR: 16 Reply 8, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2481 times:
Indeed, it is probably one of the last places in East Asia where one could still fly the IL-62M on a relatively-short scheduled service.
I flew on Air Koryo's PEK-FNJ-PEK service in September 2003 and the IL-62M (P-881) was immaculate (both on the inside and outside). Service was fine - not the best around certainly but certainly was not bad either.
At Sunan Airport in Pyongyang, one could see Air Koryo's TU-154s, TU-134s and IL-76s and beyond customs and immigration formalities on departure, there is a huge window through which one could openly snap a few pictures.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11128 posts, RR: 63 Reply 9, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2451 times:
Quoting Aviasian (Reply 8): At Sunan Airport in Pyongyang, one could see Air Koryo's TU-154s, TU-134s and IL-76s and beyond customs and immigration formalities on departure, there is a huge window through which one could openly snap a few pictures.
That is interesting. Did you go there with Koryo tours, or another operator? It's one of the places I would simply love to visit one day soon.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2442 times:
On a side note, I remember reading many years ago in "The World's Most Dangerous Places" or "Lonely Traveller" (one of those books!) that when one of the Chinese airlines used to fly into Pyongyang, most of the employees had to raise vegetables in their bathtubs for extra food!
I wonder if Air China will have volunteers for this station or if they will have to "require" agents to fly there.
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Oneskyjet From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 74 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2327 times:
Just got back from a trip into the DPRK. Went with Koryo Tours in Beijing. Americans can get visas for the DPRK but its only during the Arirang festival and only for 4 days maximum.
And yes, flying in and out on a vintage IL-62 is one of the highlights of the trip
Nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4989 posts, RR: 38 Reply 13, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2119 times:
Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 9): That is interesting. Did you go there with Koryo tours, or another operator? It's one of the places I would simply love to visit one day soon.
SQ452 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1053 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 2092 times:
And another destination on the Star Alliance route map gets added! They really do go everywhere!
Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 13): Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 9):
That is interesting. Did you go there with Koryo tours, or another operator? It's one of the places I would simply love to visit one day soon.
anyone up for an a.net Pyongyang meet? Big grin
Hahaha, fantastic, good luck trying to get around the authorities to spot there
Swissgabe From Switzerland, joined Jan 2000, 5265 posts, RR: 37 Reply 15, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2008 times:
Quoting Robbie86 (Reply 12): Yeah. As CA is one of few carriers who still fly to some countries because of political reasons.
Well possible, but the route wouldn't be operated if there wouldn't be any demand for it. Same goes btw for Air Koryo which stopped their Moscow service several years ago.
Quoting SQ452 (Reply 14):
Hahaha, fantastic, good luck trying to get around the authorities to spot there
Well, it is possible to take pictures at FNJ (see picture data base) but yes, I also doubt that they would like to see a spotter meeting at the airport.
Smooth as silk - Royal Orchid Service /// Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens - Springbok
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11128 posts, RR: 63 Reply 16, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1968 times:
Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 13): anyone up for an a.net Pyongyang meet?
Count me in
Quoting Swissgabe (Reply 15): Well, it is possible to take pictures at FNJ (see picture data base) but yes, I also doubt that they would like to see a spotter meeting at the airport.
Slip them a few €€€ and I'm sure they would be perfectly happy with it
777way From Pakistan, joined Dec 2005, 5194 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1943 times:
Quoting Swissgabe (Reply 5): The route was already operated by different Chinese Airlines before, mostly only seasonal during Summer period. If not mistaken, China Northern and China Eastern flew that route, sometimes as PEK-FNJ and PEK-DLC-FNJ vv.
Air China have operated there before as have CAAC.
China Southern operated Shenyang-Pyongyang with MD-90 seasonally from 2004 and Beijing-Pyongyang with 737-300 from 2005 uptil earlier this year.
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