Ever heard of Asia’s worst airline according to Skytrax Global Airlines Ranking? Welcome to Air Koryo, the official carrier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or North Korea.
BANGKOK- There is little circulating about North Korean national carrier Air Koryo. The airline is as secretive as the country’s itself with little exposure done except through official media. Air Koryo has been around for over 55 years. It has a fleet of 19 aircraft, all made in Russia. The most recent aircraft are two Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft with 210 seats for the -300 Series and 176 seats for the -100 Series, inclusive of a business class. They were added in 2008 and 2010 and serve international scheduled destinations. Currently, Koryo Air serves only cities in Asia with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shenyang and Vladivostok. In recent years, the airline also organized charter flights to Harbin, Shanghai Pudong, Kuwait and Singapore. In the past, the carrier used to even fly to Europe, serving Berlin and Moscow. All flights stopped following the airline’s ban from European Union skies. However, as Tupolev 204 got their EU certification, Air Koryo is seeking again permission to fly into Berlin. They are also flights to four to five domestic destinations but they are neither an official schedule nor information provided. Secrecy remains indeed a trade mark of the carrier.
What has not been a secret is the proverbial in-flight service of the airline. Although Asia is known to provide some of the best in-flight service in the world to passengers, it has also produced what is considered by Skytrax Global Airlines Ranking as the world’s worst service. Air Koryo got the award with only one star rating. It is so far the only airline ranked that low…
But even Air Koryo feels the need to join the age of digital technology. Announced last August, Air Koryo’s website opened to online booking services since October. However, it is only possible to book online to Beijing and Shenyang in China as well as to Vladivostok in Russia. Reuters reported that North Korea expert Leonid Petrov was quoted on North Korea-watching website NK News as saying: “Clearly, this website is created with the purpose to impress the people who have never thought of travelling to Pyongyang“.
Flights and seat capacities from Air Koryo (JS) to Pyongyang (Year 2012)
|
Op Al |
From |
Departures |
Seats |
|
JS |
Bangkok (BKK) |
52 |
7,384 |
|
JS |
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) |
105 |
14,910 |
|
JS |
BEIJING (PEK) |
156 |
22,152 |
|
JS |
Shenyang (SHE) |
104 |
14,768 |
|
JS |
Vladivostok (VVO) |
52 |
7,384 |
|
TOTAL |
|
469 |
66,598 |
(Source: SRS Analyzer 06-11-12)
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
