Air China resumes flights to DPRK after 6-year pause

Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals. Travel between the neighbours has been heavily restricted since 2020, when strict border closures were imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Flight CA121 departed Beijing Capital Airport at 7.58 am, according to FlightStats data, and is scheduled to arrive at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport at 11 am, according to Air China's website. Travellers at Beijing's bustling airport formed a snaking queue to check in their luggage with the airline, AFP journalists saw. Pyongyang's continued reluctance to issue tourist visas means only travellers with official or other special purposes can make the cross-border journey. Pyongyang-bound business traveller Zhao Bin showed reporters his air ticket, and expressed optimism that tourism would resume for Chinese visitors. "I expect both railway routes and Air China flights will increase, and there will be more exchanges and travel between people," he said. Economy class tickets were available for around US$200, AFP saw, and a return flight from Pyongyang is scheduled for midday. Daily passenger train services resumed this month with China, the main source of most foreign travellers to the DPRK. But AFP journalists in the northeastern town of Dandong saw a mostly empty daily passenger train travelling into the DPRK last week. The country resumed direct flights and train services with Russia last year and state carrier Air Koryo restarted flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in 2023. (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong