http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/01/02/air-china-to-fly-to-pyongyang/ News and analysis of the North Korean economy Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:28:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/01/02/air-china-to-fly-to-pyongyang/#comment-47263 North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » Air China finally lands the Pyongyang-Beijing route Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:08:35 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/01/02/air-china-to-fly-to-pyongyang/#comment-47263 [...] I predicted that Air China would primarily service Chinese customers, with Westerners sticking with Air Koryo, the North Korean airline. In separate conversations with Koryo Tours and Walter Keats both tour operators expressed a preference for Air Koryo because of its flexibility and unique atmosphere, neither of which Air China can easily match.  [...] […] I predicted that Air China would primarily service Chinese customers, with Westerners sticking with Air Koryo, the North Korean airline. In separate conversations with Koryo Tours and Walter Keats both tour operators expressed a preference for Air Koryo because of its flexibility and unique atmosphere, neither of which Air China can easily match.  […]

]]> http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/01/02/air-china-to-fly-to-pyongyang/#comment-42041 Walter L. Keats Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:26:11 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/01/02/air-china-to-fly-to-pyongyang/#comment-42041 Dear Curtis, You are probably right that Chinese will prefer the Western planes, and that "foreigners" will be OK with the Russian nostalgia flights, but also there is a practical problem We are only allowed in for 5 days. That means Tue to Sat, or Sat to Wed. If you Air China one way and Air Koryo the other neither will be happy and you could have problems. This means we have to use Air Koryo. Also, the North Koreans control Air Koryo so if there are more bodies they can add an extra section, which they have done in the past. I doubt if Air China could or would do that as easily. I am also worried that if Air China doesn't have enough customers prior to the Arirang season they may cancel and then we would be left in the cold (or wet). We'll stick with Air Koryo this year. Walter Dear Curtis,
You are probably right that Chinese will prefer the Western planes, and that “foreigners” will be OK with the Russian nostalgia flights, but also there is a practical problem We are only allowed in for 5 days. That means Tue to Sat, or Sat to Wed. If you Air China one way and Air Koryo the other neither will be happy and you could have problems. This means we have to use Air Koryo. Also, the North Koreans control Air Koryo so if there are more bodies they can add an extra section, which they have done in the past. I doubt if Air China could or would do that as easily. I am also worried that if Air China doesn’t have enough customers prior to the Arirang season they may cancel and then we would be left in the cold (or wet). We’ll stick with Air Koryo this year. Walter

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