Air China has resumed scheduled passenger flights between Beijing Capital and Pyongyang on March 30, 2026, marking the first service on this route since its suspension at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The airline operated its Boeing 737-700 aircraft, B-5297, for this initial flight, which was the only flight since the restart according to ADS-B data. Despite this reopening, reports indicate that the airline has already stopped accepting bookings for subsequent flights due to very low demand, reflecting ongoing restrictions and limited international travel to North Korea.
Flights between China and North Korea were entirely halted during the early pandemic period and only began to restart in 2023, with Air Koryo previously being the sole airline operating the route. Prior to the pandemic, China was a key gateway for inbound tourism to North Korea, accounting for around 90% of visitors. Currently, most tourism activity involves group travelers from Russia, with demand from Chinese and global travelers remaining minimal, partly due to ongoing political restrictions and health concerns.
The revival of the Beijing-Pyongyang route by Air China indicates a tentative step toward normalization, yet persistent low passenger demand suggests that meaningful recovery in the route's utilization may still be distant. Additionally, direct train services between the two cities resumed in mid-March, offering an alternative means of connectivity amid the limited air service. Overall, the current landscape reflects cautious reopening efforts amid ongoing geopolitical and public health challenges.
