N. Korea's Air Koryo seems to be operating regular Pyongyang-Jinan route: VOA

SEOUL, July 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's national carrier Air Koryo appears to have opened a regular flight service between Pyongyang and China's eastern city of Jinan for what seemed to be the transport of Chinese tourists, a Washington-based news media report said Tuesday.

According to Voice of America (VOA), the North Korean flag carrier recently launched regular flights between the two cities twice a week, raising speculations the North Korean jet may be transporting Chinese tourists to the reclusive country.

VOA said that Air Koryo operated the flight to Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, on July 15, 18, 22, 25. It said the flights took place at the same time on Mondays and Fridays.

Previously, Air Koryo operated a chartered flight between the two cities once every three days from May 31 to June 24.

The plane Air Koryo uses for the new regular route is the twin engine An-148 jet from Ukraine's Antonov Aviation that seats some 80 passengers.

North Korea is currently operating regular flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang.

The North Korean national carrier in May had operated chartered planes to the east Chinese city of Qingdao to transport Chinese tourists.

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