Air China resumes Beijing-Pyongyang flights after 6-year halt

Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday, marking the first such service since 2020 after a six-year suspension. Flight CA121 departed Beijing at 7:58 am and arrived in Pyongyang at 10:37 am, operated with a Boeing 737-700 capable of carrying 128 passengers. Only travelers with business, study, or other special purposes are currently permitted to cross the border.

China’s ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, and diplomats welcomed passengers at Pyongyang’s Sunan Airport. Economy class tickets are priced around $200, with a return flight scheduled for midday. This resumption follows the earlier restart of daily passenger train services between the two capitals.

Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists numbered about 350,000 annually in North Korea, forming the bulk of foreign visitors and providing critical revenue. Western tourist numbers were much smaller, around 5,000 per year. While China has fully reopened, North Korea’s pace remains slower—it had already resumed flights and trains with Russia and Air Koryo restarted Beijing-Pyongyang flights in 2023.

Travel specialists note the Air China route improves access but confirm that Western tourists still lack clarity. For now, travel remains restricted to approved purposes, and full tourism reopening is not yet confirmed.

Does this gradual reopening make North Korea a feasible destination for your business or educational engagements, or are diplomatic restrictions still too prohibitive?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/30/air-china-resumes-flights-to-north-korea-after-six-year-pause/