AirlineReporter.com correspondent Bernie Leighton has a thing for airplanes. He says he has flown on 50 different types of aircraft, including this Air Koryo airlines Ilyushin IL-62. Click through the gallery for more North Korean airline photos.
AirlineReporter.com correspondent Bernie Leighton has a thing for airplanes. He says he has flown on 50 different types of aircraft, including this Air Koryo airlines Ilyushin IL-62. Click through the gallery for more North Korean airline photos.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton
Pyongyang Sunan International Airport is among Air Koryo's North Korean destinations from Beijing.
Pyongyang Sunan International Airport is among Air Koryo's North Korean destinations from Beijing.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.c
A rare flight on a North Korean airliner makes even this air sickness bag a potential souvenir.
A rare flight on a North Korean airliner makes even this air sickness bag a potential souvenir.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
This Ilyushin IL-62 was built in the 1980s, and features four, rear-mounted engines and a so-called T-tail. Efforts to modernize Air Koryo's fleet have been stymied by longstanding international economic sanctions against North Korea.
This Ilyushin IL-62 was built in the 1980s, and features four, rear-mounted engines and a so-called T-tail. Efforts to modernize Air Koryo's fleet have been stymied by longstanding international economic sanctions against North Korea.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
Air Koryo's in-flight meal service included cold chicken, warm potato curry, cold ham and a bun. For dessert: fruit salad.
Air Koryo's in-flight meal service included cold chicken, warm potato curry, cold ham and a bun. For dessert: fruit salad.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
Stepping onto the IL-62's flight deck -- with its analog equipment -- was like traveling back in time to the 1980s.
Stepping onto the IL-62's flight deck -- with its analog equipment -- was like traveling back in time to the 1980s.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
If you were flying First Class on Air Koryo, your seat might look something like this -- with speckled, linoleum-like walls and tinted Bakelite window shades.
If you were flying First Class on Air Koryo, your seat might look something like this -- with speckled, linoleum-like walls and tinted Bakelite window shades.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
Overhead displays on Air Koryo's IL-62s are labeled in English as well as Korean.
Overhead displays on Air Koryo's IL-62s are labeled in English as well as Korean.
Courtesy Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com
Air Koryo provides decent service, said aviation enthusiast Sam Chui. "They're just using some different equipment." Chui said he has flown on 111 different types of planes, and logged about 2.4 million air miles.
Air Koryo provides decent service, said aviation enthusiast Sam Chui. "They're just using some different equipment." Chui said he has flown on 111 different types of planes, and logged about 2.4 million air miles.
Sam Chui