A North Korean passenger plane recently completed its third flight to Shanghai, China, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, sparking speculation about the potential resumption of the Pyongyang-Shanghai route. On Tuesday, reports emerged detailing this significant development in North Korea’s international air travel.
NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet focusing on North Korean affairs, reported that an Air Koryo flight, registered as P-671, departed from Pyongyang International Airport on the night of June 29. The Antonov AN-148 aircraft flew for approximately two hours before landing in Shanghai at 10:00 p.m. (China Standard Time).
The return flight took off from Shanghai at 12:47 a.m. (China Standard Time) on Monday, touching down in Pyongyang at 2:10 a.m. (Pyongyang Time).
This marks the third instance of a North Korean passenger plane traveling to Shanghai since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December last year, a trial flight carried a small group of tourists and businesspeople. More recently, in April, another flight transported foreign athletes participating in a marathon event in Pyongyang. Before the pandemic, regular flights operated twice weekly, on Thursdays and Saturdays.
North Korea sealed its borders immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the country has been gradually reopening its air routes. In August 2023, flights resumed on the Pyongyang-Beijing and Pyongyang-Vladivostok routes, followed by the Pyongyang-Shenyang route in January 2024.
While it remains uncertain whether this recent flight signals the full resumption of regular service on the Pyongyang-Shanghai route, North Korea’s efforts to revitalize its tourism industry suggest an increase in regular routes to China may be on the horizon. The country recently held a ceremony to mark the opening of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, signaling a renewed focus on attracting international visitors.
In March, Air Koryo announced on its website that the airfare for the Pyongyang-Shanghai route would be 1,840 CNY (approximately 257 USD). This pricing disclosure aligns with North Korea’s previous practice of revealing fares shortly before resuming flights on other international routes, including those to Beijing, Shenyang, and Vladivostok.