Air Koryo

Air Koryo, operating under the IATA code JS and ICAO code KOR, serves as the state-owned flag carrier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Founded in 1955 as Chosŏn Minhang (Korean Airways), the airline was renamed Air Koryo in 1992 and remains wholly owned by the North Korean government. It is the oldest airline in the country and has long been the primary means of international air travel for the isolated state, operating under strict regulatory oversight from the state-run General Bureau of Civil Aviation. Due to international sanctions and the country’s limited economic engagement, Air Koryo has historically maintained a modest network focused on neighbouring capitals and a few charter services, though it has also faced periods of suspension and route cancellations.

The airline’s fleet is predominantly composed of ageing Soviet- and Russian-designed aircraft, reflecting the country’s limited access to Western aviation technology. As of the mid-2020s, Air Koryo operates a small number of Tupolev Tu-204-300s, its most modern jets, alongside older types such as the Ilyushin Il-62, Il-76 (cargo variant), and the Antonov An-148 regional jet. The fleet also includes a handful of Tupolev Tu-134 and Tu-154 variants, though many of these are now grounded or used for occasional domestic and charter flights. The carrier’s reliance on these models has earned it a unique place in aviation enthusiast circles, as Air Koryo is one of the few airlines worldwide still operating Soviet-era jetliners on regular services. The airline also operates a small number of turboprop aircraft, such as the Antonov An-24, for domestic routes. However, safety concerns have been repeatedly raised by international bodies; the airline has been banned from operating in European airspace since 2006 due to safety deficiencies, and it has consistently received a one-star rating from Skytrax for its onboard product and overall service quality.

Air Koryo’s primary hub is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, located approximately 24 kilometres north of the capital city. This airport serves as the airline’s main base for both domestic and international operations, handling the vast majority of its flights. Sunan International Airport underwent a significant renovation and expansion project completed in 2015, including a new terminal building capable of handling a higher passenger volume, though the actual traffic remains extremely limited due to the country’s closed nature. The airline also maintains a secondary focus on a few domestic airports, such as Samjiyon and Wonsan, though these see very limited scheduled service. As a flag carrier, Air Koryo operates under a mixed model: it provides scheduled domestic and international passenger services, charter flights (including occasional cargo operations), and has been known to operate flights to support diplomatic and state activities. It is not a member of any global airline alliance, nor does it participate in major codeshare agreements, largely due to political isolation and limited route network. The airline also does not hold IATA membership, though it has historically observed some IATA standards for ticketing.

Notable milestones in Air Koryo’s history include its brief attempt to modernize in the 1990s with the acquisition of Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft, which were intended to replace the older Il-62 fleet. More recently, the airline achieved a degree of international notoriety when it was ranked as the world’s worst-rated airline by Skytrax in 2015, a distinction it has consistently held since. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Koryo suspended nearly all international flights, resuming only a very limited schedule in subsequent years. The airline has also been subject to a number of sanctions-related incidents, including the grounding of its aircraft in foreign countries due to unpaid fees or security concerns. Despite these challenges, Air Koryo remains a symbol of national pride for North Korea and a rare window into the country’s aviation sector, continuing to operate its vintage fleet from its hub at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport under the tight control of the state.