North Korean national carrier Air Koryo started flying twice weekly between Pyongyang and Macau on August 2.
The airline operates scheduled international flights to Beijing, Shenyang and Vladivostok. Macau is now the airline’s fourth international destination, and the farthest destination so far.
In fact, it’s not the first time for Air Koryo to fly to Macau. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (CAA), the North Korean carrier once provided scheduled and non-scheduled air services between the two cities from 1996 to 2004.
Unlike most national carriers, Air Koryo does not operate Western-manufactured aircraft, but rather a fleet of Russian-built planes, including from manufacturers Antonov, Tupolev and Illyushin. However, CAA did not disclose the flight schedule and the aircraft deployed on this route.
CNN reported that the objective of the route resumption might be to cater to more and more young wealthy elites in North Korea.
Meanwhile, according to local newspaper Macau Daily, there are local travel agencies in Macau organising tours to North Korea. Before this non-stop service between Macau and North Korea was launched, travellers had to fly to Beijing or the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang first, before transferring to Pyongyang.