BANNED in CHINA: North Korea's Scary Soviet-Era Fleet has Nowhere to Go

Reaganite Republican ^ | 26 January 2013 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

By enacting a safety ban -as the EU has- on Air Koryo's 

Soviet jalopies, China has effectively left the Norks 

with only two planes capable of international routes...

Save for a couple newer Russian Tu-204 aircraft, the DPRK's Air Koryo -infamous for the world's worst booking site and the only one-star airline in existence- boasts a fleet comprised of creaking USSR-era aircraft (IL-62, Tu-134, Tu-154), planes that have all been banned in the European Union due to failed Air Koryo ground inspections, ancient design, noise- and the North Korean's contempt for international safety standards in general.

Until now, the workhorse Tu-154 -which even Aeroflot retired in 2009- has been primarily operating for the Norks' flag carrier between China and Pyongyang, with additional seasonal flights to Malaysia, Russia, and a couple other destinations.

So this new Chinese government ban marks the end of an era: service to Beijing will continue on the newer Russian Tu-204s, but the Tupolevs will likely continue to operate within the DPRK, and a few foreign routes. Looks like they might have to scrape up the dosh for some new planes... not that new Boeings would do them any better, mind you.

They play marching music upon takeoff and landing too... seriously

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NK News   BusinessInsider   Air Koryo   Wikipedia   JetPhotos.net   CNN   ChicagoTribune

[Joe Boucher]

Few years ago,
Don’t remember the specifics but a google search will get ya the info.
Russian or Chineese supply trains go to unload in North Korea.
Norks refuse to let them leave. Kept them for internal necessities.

[Reaganite Republican]

I don’t think they’ve had a crash since the 80s actually- really don’t fly very much, that’s part of it I guess

I remember seeing a Tupelov 154 taking of from Prague airport about ten years back, what struck me was lots of smoke and LOUD