which US/EU/Asian passenger airlines currently fly over North Korean airspace?

[Sarkir]

which US/EU/Asian passenger airlines currently fly over North Korean airspace?
(not serving North Korea, just using its airspace to get to a third country)

I only know of one example, Cathay Pacific, which has US-HKG flights that flies
directly over North Korea.

THANKS!

[SKRan]

CA flies to North Korea.

[smellyplane]

Originally Posted by SKRan

CA flies to North Korea.

They do? Then why do the Kims always take the train from Pyongyan to Beijing?

[IAHRyan]

Originally Posted by smellyplane

They do? Then why do the Kims always take the train from Pyongyan to Beijing?

Kim Jong Il reportedly loves trains and hates flying. Even if they did fly, it’d be on Air Koryo, not Air China most likely.

[Daawgon]

I believe both South Korean carriers (OZ and KE) use the airspace, and possibly a few others that use ICN/Incheon Airport.

[Mabuk dan gila]

Originally Posted by Daawgon

I believe both South Korean carriers (OZ and KE) use the airspace, and possibly a few others that use ICN/Incheon Airport.

Every OZ and KE flight I have ever been on very poignantly avoided North Korea by a wide margin. ICN-LAX goes something like take off headed North West, quickly turn West, loop South and then fly almost strait East all the way to Japan before turning North again.

[t325]

Originally Posted by smellyplane

They do? Then why do the Kims always take the train from Pyongyan to Beijing?

He wants to avoid the nude-o-scope and groping

[alanh]

He's probably worried about being shot down, or that one of the ancient Il-62s that Air Koryo operates as VIP flights will do it by itself.

He's going to miss out on their delicious in flight meals, though.

[smellyplane]

Originally Posted by t325

He wants to avoid the nude-o-scope and groping

I imagine that not a single person in the entire country(North korea) will dare touch the Great Leader's junk!(excuse me, crown jewels)

Google search revealed several articles from many years ago.... apparently even Delta or United managed to secure rights to use North Korean airspace on TPAC fligths?

[William S]

Kim and patdowns? Haha, never gonna happen I guess. Aeroflot used to have flights to Pyongyang, but are now discontinued. Maybe they use North Korean airspace for their flights to Seoul.

On a sidenote I wonder where El Al flies in order to avoid the Arab restrictions on El Al... They kinda have to go out into the Mediterrian and fly up to Turkey and then eastwards if going to Asia...

[jpatokal]

Originally Posted by William S

On a sidenote I wonder where El Al flies in order to avoid the Arab restrictions on El Al... They kinda have to go out into the Mediterrian and fly up to Turkey and then eastwards if going to Asia...

Not quite, but it's almost as bad. Here's one example:


Note that they can fly over Egypt, which is at peace with Israel. (Jordan as well, but it's surrounded by hostile states, so that doesn't help much.)

[Finite Elephant]

Originally Posted by Mabuk dan gila

Every OZ and KE flight I have ever been on very poignantly avoided North Korea by a wide margin. ICN-LAX goes something like take off headed North West, quickly turn West, loop South and then fly almost strait East all the way to Japan before turning North again.

I fly ORD-ICN on KE at least annually, and they've always given North Korea a wide berth. Westbound they used to take the great circle route to northern Japan (almost to Tokyo) before turning NW to ICN. The last few years they've been coming down to the west of North Korea, through China, and then swinging back NE to ICN. I don't know if that's indicative of improved PRC-ROK relations or if it's been determined to be cheaper.

I'd be willing to bet that no country that fought against North Korea flies through its airspace.

The selfish part of my wants reunification because it'd shave a bit off the flying time to Seoul.

[drewguy]

Originally Posted by Finite Elephant

The selfish part of my wants reunification because it'd shave a bit off the flying time to Seoul.

That, or you'd no longer be able to get to Seoul at all.

[smellyplane]

Originally Posted by Finite Elephant

I fly ORD-ICN on KE at least annually, and they've always given North Korea a wide berth. Westbound they used to take the great circle route to northern Japan (almost to Tokyo) before turning NW to ICN. The last few years they've been coming down to the west of North Korea, through China, and then swinging back NE to ICN. I don't know if that's indicative of improved PRC-ROK relations or if it's been determined to be cheaper.

I'd be willing to bet that no country that fought against North Korea flies through its airspace.

The selfish part of my wants reunification because it'd shave a bit off the flying time to Seoul.

Cathay currently flies over North Korean airspace, depending on weather condtitions.... I thought the British was on the American side during the Korean War? (edit: technically Hong Kong is no longer a British colony because is now a Chinese colony)

[William S]

Originally Posted by jpatokal

Not quite, but it's almost as bad. Here's one example:


Note that they can fly over Egypt, which is at peace with Israel. (Jordan as well, but it's surrounded by hostile states, so that doesn't help much.)

Seems like they use Saudi Arabian and Yemeni airspace enroute to India? Hmm. Those two states are hostile with Israel aswell.