Air Koryo: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Korean name|context= north|hangul=고려항공|hanja=高麗航空|mr=Koryŏ Hanggong|}} |
{{Infobox Korean name|context= north|hangul=고려항공|hanja=高麗航空|rr=Goryeo Hanggong|mr=Koryŏ Hanggong|}} |
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[[Image:Airkoryoatmoscow.jpg|thumb|right|An Air Koryo [[Ilyushin Il-62]]M on finals at Moscow [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]] somming from [[Sunan International Airport]]]] |
[[Image:Airkoryoatmoscow.jpg|thumb|right|An Air Koryo [[Ilyushin Il-62]]M on finals at Moscow [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]] somming from [[Sunan International Airport]]]] |
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Revision as of 14:40, 20 April 2008
| File:Airkoryo.gif | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1954 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | Sunan International Airport, Pyongyang | ||||||
| Secondary hubs | Wonsan Airport,Chongjin Airport and Siamjiyeon Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Beijing, China | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Koryo frequent flyer (planned for 2008) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 24 (+1 order) | ||||||
| Destinations | 15 (+1 planned) | ||||||
| Headquarters |  Pyongyang, DPRK | ||||||
| Key people | Kang Ki Sop (Director General of the General Civil Aviation Administration of the DPRK) | ||||||
| Air Koryo | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 고려항공 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 高麗航空 |
| Revised Romanization | Goryeo Hanggong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Koryŏ Hanggong |
Air Koryo Korean Airways (formerly Chosŏn Minhang (조선민항), short form Air Koryo) is the state-owned national airline of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, based in Pyongyang. It operates international services and occasional charter flights to points in Asia, Africa and Europe. It is based at Sunan International Airport[1] in Sunan, a suburb north of Pyongyang.
The Head Office of Air Koryo is located in the Sunan district, Pyongyang, and it has offices in Beijing, Shenyang, Macau, Bangkok, Berlin, Moscow, as well as a sales agencies in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
History
The airline was established in 1954 and started operations on 21 September 1955. It was formerly known as Chosonminhang Korean Airways (CAAK) and was formed to succeed SOKAO, the joint Soviet-North Korean airline established in 1950[1]. CAAK began operations with Lisunov Li-2, Antonov An-2 and Ilyushin Il-12 aircraft. Ilyushin Il-14 and Ilyushin Il-18 turboprops were added to the fleet in the 1960s.
Jet operation commenced in 1975, when the first Tupolev Tu-154 was delivered for services from Pyongyang to Prague, East Berlin and Moscow. However, because the Tu-154 did not have the sufficient range, the plane had to land not only at Irkutsk, but also at Novosibirsk.Along with the Tu-154 Tu-34's and An-34's were deleivered to start domestic services. The Tu-154 fleet was increased at the start of the 1980s and the first Ilyushin Il-62 was delivered in 1982, allowing CAAK to offer a direct non-stop service to Moscow for the first time. During this period, the flight even went to Sofia and Belgrade as well.
The end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism in Europe saw a vast reduction in the number of international services offered. CAAK became Air Koryo in 1993. Also in 1993 Air Koryo ordered 3 Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft to carry extra cargo to its destinations in China and Russia. Air Koryo recently purchased 2 new Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft to replace the aging international fleet. Air Koryo has also started modernizing its fleet and interior by adding new aircraft to its fleet and new interior. With the new Tu-204 Air Koryo will be capable of flying to Europe via Moscow and there has been talk of Air Koryo restarting a service to Moscow. Air Koryo recently operated a charter flgiht to New York via Amsterdam for a goverment charter but also took passangers this was the first time a North Korean aircraft has landed in the United states.
Destinations
Air Koryo serves the following scheduled destinations [2]
Destinations cargo
Air Koryo's cargo fligts serves the following scheduled destinations [7]
| City | Airport Code | Airport Name | Aircraft | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IATA | ICAO | ||||
 China
| |||||
| Beijing | PEK | ZBAA | Beijing Capital International Airport | Il-76, Il-18[8] | 4 times weekly [9] |
 North Korea
| |||||
| Chongjin | n/a | n/a | Chongjin Airport | An-24,Il-18 | daily |
| Hamhung | n/a | n/a | Hamhung Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Kaesong | n/a | n/a | Kaesong Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Kanggye | n/a | n/a | Kanggye Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Kilchu | n/a | n/a | Kilchu Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Pyongyang | FNJ | ZKPY | Sunan International Airport | An-24 Il-18, 76 |
Hub |
| Samjiyeon | n/a | n/a | Siamjiyeon Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Sinuiju | n/a | n/a | Sinuiji Airport | An-24 | daily |
| Wonsan | n/a | n/a | Wonsan Airport | An-24,Il-18 | secondary hub |
 Russia
| |||||
| Vladivostok | VVO | UHWW | Vladivostok International Airport | An-24 Il-18 |
3 weekly |
Additional cargo is carriedon passanger flights from Beijing,Macau,Bangkok,Domestic flights and Shengyang [10] Air Koryo also charters cargo flights with the Il-76's to the following cities:
Modernization
Air Koryo has modernized its aircraft and identity. The airline change its livery slightly and maintains a great maintenance on its aircraft the aircraft are always presented well. Air Koryo has also changed the interior of its main international aircraft by adding new seating arrangements and new seats the Il-62's have added new over head bins which are closed off meaning the baggage will not fall during the flight[12]. The airline also has ordered new aircraft to replace some of the aging fleet. The new aircraft Air Koryo has ordered are Tupolev Tu-204's which are capable of flying to Moscow non-stop. Air Koryo are interested in some new Sukhoi Superjet 100's to replace the Tupolev Tu-154 and Tu-134 fleets.[13] Air Koryo is also starting to modernize its regional airports bringing them up to an International standard, airports like Chingjin and Wonsan could offer international flights and will be capable of holding Ilyushin Il-62's and Tupolev Tu-204's for Air Koryo.
Tupolev Tu-204
The first Tupolev Tu-204-300 for Air Koryo was officially handed over to to the carrier on December 27 and was ferried from Ulyanovsk to Pyongynag. This is the first tu-204-300 export out of Russia. Air Koryo has a firm order for another tu-204-300 and the airline will wait until it is deleiverd. The first tu-204 is being tested in Pyongyang and the airlines is getting the feel of how the aircraft works. Air Koryo is in talks with Aviastar over the purchase of another tu-204. The tu-204 has been fitted out with 8 business class seats and the remaining 145 seats ecconomy. The Air Koryo layout for the tu-204 is very spacious and has ample legroom and can carry extra cargo below deck. Pictured to the right is the Tu-204 before it deleivery.[14]
Maintenance
Air Koryo regularly services their aircraft. Maintenance is carried out at Pyongyang airport and major maintenance and services are done in Russia. The Tu-154s,Il-62s,Tu-134s and Il-76's are ferried to Russia regularly for maintenance. The smaller aircraft An-24 and Mil-17's are maintained in Pyongyang and Vladivostok. [15][16].
Charters
Additional flights to Shenzhen (JS137/138) and Macau (JS187/188) are operated in peak season, charter flights, mostly on diplomatic or freight duties serve:
- Moscow (JS215/216)
- Sofia (JS217/218)
- Zurich [17]
- Prague [18]
- Berlin [19]
- New York City via Amsterdam[20]
The first regular charter flights between North Korea and South Korea began in 2002. The first Air Koryo flight to touch down in South Korea was in August 2000, carrying a North Korean diplomatic delegation for talks with the South. Air Koryo also operates additional flights to Shengyang and Beijing during Chinese new year with Tu-154's and Tu-134's.
Domestic Services
As North Korea's sole aviation entity, Air Koryo is responsible for the overseas transportation of government officials. It offers domestic services in addition to its international flights all the domestic services are run by Tu-134,Il-18,An-24 and Tu-154's. The most demanding scheduled domestic flight is Pyongyang - Hamhung - Chongjin on a tri daily basis during summer periods seaside cities are focused on but during winter cities like Samjiyeon are focused on for tourisim to the cities mountain resorts. Chronic fuel shortages keept the domestic services grounded for a period of time until these problems were resolved. Air Koryo also offers domestic charter services, flying foreign tourists from Pyongyang to Samjiyeon for tours to Baekdu-san on additional flights. Air Koryo also shuttles people between North Korean major cities and is used to carry cargo to the local airports from Pyongyang.
Terminated destinations
Terminated due to financial and economic difficulties:
- Moscow- Charter flights operated
- Berlin
- Sofia
- Bucharest
- Budapest
- Prague
- Belgrade
- Warsaw
- Irkutsk
- Novosibirsk- stop over to Moscow
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Business/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mil Mi-17 | ? | 32 | Domestic and regional routes | P-108 unknown numbers of helicopters in fleet |
| Antonov An-24RV | 7 | 50 | Domestic and regional routes | P-534,P-532, P-533, P-527[24] |
| Ilyushin Il-18D | 2 | 100 | Regional and medium-haul routes China and Russia |
P-836 P-835 |
| Ilyushin Il-62M | 4 | 190 | long-haul routes Europe, China, Thailand and government charters |
P-881, P-885, P-618, P-882 |
| Ilyushin IL-76MD | 3 | 44 Tons cargo | cargo flights to Europe,China and Russia | P-914, P-912, P-913 |
| Tupolev Tu-154B[25] | 4 | 180 | China,Russia,Japan and South Korea | P-561, P-552 , P-553 , P-551 |
| Tupolev Tu-134B-3 | 3 | 84 | China, Russia and government charters | P-814, P-813, P-812 |
| Tupolev Tu-204 | 1 + 1 order | 212 | To be placed in to service in May on longhaul routes | P-632 + P63? on order |
Incidents
- On August 15, 2006 aircraft from Air Koryo (Tupolev 154B-2) on an international scheduled passenger flight from Beijing, China (Beijing Capital Airport) to Pyongyang, North Korea (Sunan International Airport) experienced a runway mishap (exited runway) during landing rollout after landing in bad weather at Sunan International Airport. No injuries were reported and damage to plane was minor.[26][27]
Banned in the European Union
Air Koryo is on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union (as of July 2006).
The rationale for the decision by the European Commission was the following (paraphrased):
- During ramp inspections in France and Germany there was obtained verified evidence of serious safety deficiencies on the part of Air Koryo. These deficiencies were also identified under the SAFA programme (DGAC/F 2000-210).
- During other subsequent ramp inspections performed under the SAFA programme Air Koryo persistently failed to address these deficiencies which were previously communicated by France (DGAC/F-2000-895).
- Incident-related information of a substantiated and serious nature communicated by France indicated that Air Koryo had latent systemic safety deficiencies.
- There was a demonstrated lack of ability on the part of Air Koryo to address these safety deficiencies.
- There was a failure on the part of Air Koryo to respond adequately and in a timely manner to an enquiry by the civil aviation authority of France regarding the safety aspect of its operation, which showed a lack of transparency or communication, which was also demonstrated by the absence of reply to a request by France.
- The plan for corrective action presented by Air Koryo in response to France's request was not adequate and sufficient in order to correct the identified serious safety deficiencies.
- The authorities of the DPRK (North Korea) with responsibility for regulatory oversight have not exercised an adequate oversight over Air Koryo, which it is obliged to do under the Chicago Convention.
- Therefore and on the basis of the common criteria[28] the Commission assessed that Air Koryo does not meet the relevant safety standards.[29]
External links
- [1] Offical website.
- Air Koryo at the Korean Friendship Association website.
- Air Koryo at the Aviation Safety Network Database
- CAAK (predecessor) at the Aviation Safety Network Database
References
- ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-03-27. p. 59.
- ^ Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Switzerland
- ^ http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=417119
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Koryo/Tupolev-Tu-154B-2/0821474
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Koryo/Tupolev-Tu-154B/0819696
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00450451
- ^ Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Switzerland
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1112052&size=L&width=1200&height=812&sok=&photo_nr=
- ^ http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5949801&nseq=29
- ^ http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=176800&nseq=122
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0154239&size=L&width=985&height=662&sok=&photo_nr=
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00543161
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00895461
- ^ http://www.dprkstudies.org/2008/02/23/air-koryo-prepares-russian-tu-204-300-airliner-for-service/
- ^ http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=675471
- ^ http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=673140
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00099466
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00060046
- ^ http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00122102
- ^ http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/koryo.htm
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0356931&size=L&width=1600&height=971&sok=&photo_nr=172
- ^ http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Koryo/Tupolev-Tu-154B/0177891&photo_nr=185&prev_id=0191941&next_id=0170591
- ^ Airline recognition guide by Gunter Endres and Graham Edwards.P 65 Air Koryo
- ^ http://www.pbase.com/aviationimagesrf/image/93445282
- ^ http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=413193
- ^ FCO Country report - August 15, 2006 Tu 154 crash
- ^ Aviation Safety Database report - August 15, 2006 Tupolev 154 crash
- ^ Fly Well portal (Which contains links to the common air transport policy)Template:En icon, European Commission, March 22 2006
- ^ Commission Regulation (EC) No 474/2006 of 22 March 2006 (PDF-file)Template:En icon, European Commission, March 22 2006