Pyongyang International Airport

Pyongyang International Airport

Terminal 2
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Government of North Korea
Serves Pyongyang, North Korea
Location Sunan District, Pyongyang, North Korea
Hub for Air Koryo
Elevation AMSL 36 m / 118 ft
Coordinates 39°13′26″N 125°40′12″E / 39.22389°N 125.67000°E / 39.22389; 125.67000Coordinates: 39°13′26″N 125°40′12″E / 39.22389°N 125.67000°E / 39.22389; 125.67000
Website pyongyanginternational.com
Map
FNJ

Location in North Korea

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 3,800 12,467 Concrete
17/35 3,200 10,499 Concrete
Pyongyang International Airport
Chosŏn'gŭl 평양국제비행장
Hancha 平壤國際飛行場
Revised Romanization Pyeongyang Gukje Bihaengjang
McCune–Reischauer P'yŏngyang Kukche Pihaengchang

Pyongyang International Airport (IATA: FNJ, ICAO: ZKPY), also known as the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport,[1] is the main airport serving Pyongyang, capital of North Korea. It is located in the city's Sunan District.

History

Early years

The first airport in Pyongyang was located east of the Taedong River. However, after World War II there was a need for a newer airport, and Sunan Airfield was constructed.

During the Korean War, the airport was occupied by United Nations forces for seven weeks in late 1950. The forces flew large amounts of supplies to Sunan during this period. On 13 May 1953, the airport was inundated when the US Air Force bombed Toksan Dam. After an armistice was signed two months later, the North Korean Government started repairing and expanding the airport.[2]

Development since the 2000s

In 2000, Aeroflot discontinued its flights from Moscow and later discontinued its services from Khabarovsk. Russian Sky Airlines operated charter services to Pyongyang from Russian destinations during the mid 2000s operated by Il-62M and Il-86 aircraft[3][4].[5][6] China Southern Airlines offered scheduled charter flights to and from Beijing during the peak season only, and permanently pulled its flights in October 2006.[7] In March 2008, Air China re-established service to Beijing, three days a week.[8]Air Koryo[9], Korean Air and Asiana Airlines also provided chartered flight services to Seoul and Yangyang on the east coast of South Korea from Pyongyang. These flights were used by Korean family members visiting divided family across the border, these services were halted after the ending of the Sunshine policy by South Korea in 2008.[5].

Modernization

By early 2011, an interim facility handling international flights had been constructed just south of the existing terminal. By early 2012, demolishing of the existing terminal, which Kim Jong-un deemed too small and outdated, had begun. In July 2012, he ordered the construction of a new terminal.[10] Besides this, a new control tower and VIP terminal north of the main terminal were also constructed.[11] The project became part of a "speed campaign", in which thousands of workers were enlisted to quickly complete it. Most construction was carried out by hand or with simple tools.[12]

Infrastructure

Air Koryo Tupolev Tu-204-300 (P-632) at Pyongyang Sunan's Terminal 2 in October 2015

The Pyongyang airport has two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 opened in January 2016 and solely handles domestic flights.[13] It is connected to Terminal 2,[13] the international terminal that was inaugurated on 1 July 2015.[14][15] The terminal has jet bridges and at least 12 check-in counters.[16][17] Amenities include a duty-free store, coffee bar, newsstand and Internet room.[17][18]

The airport has one functioning runway which is designated 01/19 and measures 4,000 by 60 metres (13,120 ft × 200 ft).[19] Another runway, 17/35, is not in use as of 2013.[20][1]

Yonhap reported in September 2016 that a maintenance facility had been constructed at the Pyongyang airport. Located about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from runway 01/19, the facility includes aircraft hangars and apartment buildings for high-ranking officials and Air Koryo employees.[21]


Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Air ChinaBeijing–Capital [22]
Air KoryoBeijing–Capital, Dandong[23], Shanghai–Pudong, Shenyang, Vladivostok, Chongjin, Sondok, Samjiyon, Wonsan[24]

Charter: Zhengzhou[25], Yanji[26], Harbin[27]

Access

The Pyongyang airport is located approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi) from the city,[14] about a 20-minute drive.[28] In addition, Sunan Station located on the Pyongui Line of Korean State Railway is located 800 m away from the Pyongyang airport terminal building.[29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Pyongyang Intl -- ZKPY". World Aero Data. 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Corfield, Justin (2014). Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. London, UK and New York, NY: Anthem Press. p.198.
  3. ↑ https://russianplanes.net/id128120
  4. ↑ https://russianplanes.net/id161712
  5. 1 2 Willoughby, Robert (2014). North Korea: The Bradt Travel Guide. Guilford, CT: The Globe Pequot Press Inc. Archived online at Google Books.
  6. ↑ "1985/86: AEROFLOT Network". Airline Route. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "China Southern to Halt Pyongyang Flights". The Chosun Ilbo via China Aviation Daily. 19 October 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  8. ↑ Rabinovitch, Simon (31 March 2008). "Air China launches flights to North Korea". Reuters. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  9. ↑ https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2003/2003%20-%202045.html?search=air%20koryo
  10. ↑ "10 things to know about North Korea's new airport terminal". The Straits Times. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "North Korea to open new terminal at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport". Airport Technology. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "North Korea enlists thousands of workers to finish new airport". Associated Press via The Guardian. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Terminal 1 of Pyongyang Sunan Int'l Airport starts operation in DPRK". Xinhua News Agency. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  14. 1 2 "North Korea’s ‘landmark’ airport terminal to open on July 1". The Japan Times. AFP-Jiji. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  15. ↑ "With much fanfare, fancy new terminal opens at Pyongyang's international airport". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  16. ↑ Shim, Elizabeth (2 July 2015). "North Korea: Airport terminal is 'new face' of country". United Press International. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  17. 1 2 "10 things to know about North Korea's new airport terminal". The Straits Times. Singapore. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Talmadge, Eric (27 August 2015). "North Korea's shiny new airport falls short of expectations". The Guardian. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  19. ↑ "ZKPY - Pyongyang Airport". SkyVector. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  20. ↑ Corfield, Justin (2013). Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. London, UK: Anthem Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-85728-234-7.
  21. ↑ "N. Korea builds large-scale maintenance complex for Air Koryo planes: report". Yonhap. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  22. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/273567/air-china-w17-international-service-changes-as-of-29jun17/?highlight=pyongyang
  23. ↑ http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3127565
  24. ↑ https://www.nknews.org/2017/03/air-koryo-launches-domestic-tour-company-for-north-koreans/
  25. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/244584/air-koryo-adds-pyongyang-zhengzhou-tourist-charters-sepoct-2014/?highlight=air%20koryo
  26. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/213531/air-koryo-adds-yanji-service-from-august-2013-kuala-lumpur-service-revision/?highlight=air%20koryo
  27. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/142345/air-koryo-to-start-pyongyang-harbin-charter-service-from-late-apr-2012/?highlight=air%20koryo
  28. ↑ The Rough Guide to Korea. Rough Guides. 2015. ISBN 9780241246375.
  29. ↑ "平壌～北京間国際列車－平壌→定州". www.2427junction.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
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