After almost five years of being closed to foreigners after the Covid pandemic, the reclusive country of North Korea is finally reopening one city to foreign tourists in December. At least two China-based tour operators will be able to take tourists once again to visit the mountainous northern city of Samjiyon (China approved the resumption of flights to Pyongyang in 2023). Here are five fun facts about Air Koryo - North Korea's flag carrier (although travelers should note that Americans are typically forbidden to visit North Korea by the State Department).

1. International flights to China and Russia

Air Koryo operates three to four international routes

According to URI Tours, Air Koryo only has international flights to China's cities of Beijing, Shenyang, and Shanghai and to Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok. In the past, the airline also operated scheduled flights between Thailand's Bangkok and Macau and Kuwait. There were also charter flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and some other countries.

The Air Koryo website lists flights to Vladivostok, Beijing, and Shenyang. The flight to Russia's Vladivostok is priced at USD ($229) while the flights to Beijing (1,760 CNY approx. $245) and Shenyang (1,180 CNY, approx. $165) are in Chinese Rimibi (prices exclude taxes). Air Koryo may no longer offer flights to Shanghai.

2. Air Koryo flies Antonov and Tupolev jets

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

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

The Tupolev Tu-204 is a twin-engined medium-range narrow-body jet airliner introduced in 1989. It was first flown during the Soviet Union's twilight years and was broadly intended to compete with the Boeing 757. During the 1990s, it replaced the medium-range Tupolev Tu-154 trijet.

3. Air Koryo has a new livery

Air Koryo changed its livery in 2024

At the end of 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea would no longer pursue unification with South Korea. Officially, both governments claim to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, and both have long (officially at least) sought reunification. The names "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 the North would no longer pursue unification with the South, Air Koryo started changing its crane logo in 2024. 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 semi-banned in the EU

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

Air Koryo is banned from flying in the European Union with any of its aircraft except for the Tupolev Tu-204 (the only aircraft deemed to meet the EU safety standards). The EU Air Safety List includes many airlines around the world that have been banned from flying in the EU. Almost 100 carriers from dozens of countries were banned in 2021 (e.g., Iran, Sudan, Libya, Nepal), and the list increased significantly in 2022 after Russian airlines were added to the banned list.

In 2019, the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) was still listed on the Register as a ‘safe’ airline - although the EU went ahead with bans anyway. It is unclear when the EU will lift its ban on the airline, but considering the political environment and strict sanctions on North Korea, that may be a long time in the future.

5. VIP Ilyushin Il-62M

Air Koryo has two VIP Il-62Ms

Air Koryo also operates two Ilyushin Il-62M jets as VIP transport for the Government of North Korea. One of these jets is the personal jet of the leader, Kim Jong Un, which is painted in an all-white livery. The government of Russia also uses Ilyushin Il-62M jets. No Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft remain in service as passenger jets.

Air Koryo received its first long-haul Ilyushin Il-62 in 1979 during the Cold War, and two of the aircraft received VIP configuration. North Korea is believed to have four Il-62Ms, but some of these may not be operational. Il-62s are readily recognizable by having four jet engines attached to the tail of the aircraft.