First direct flights from Singapore to North Korea to be launched

The first direct flights from Singapore’s Changi Airport to Pyongyang, the capital of hermetic North Korea, are set to take off early this fall, thanks in large part to an increased interest among Singaporeans in the world’s most repressive and secretive communist state. Few countries have been able to develop direct air links with Pyongyang and fewer still would have wanted to in the past, as most of these route would have been unprofitable due to the very rudimentary nature of the tourism industry in this country. The only countries that have had direct air links to North Korea or still offer flights, include Russia, China and Thailand. Most of the current flights, however, are operated from Beijing.

The first direct flights from Singapore will be operated by Air Koryo, North Korea’s national airline. All flights will be chartered by the Universal Travel Corporation, which has approximately 15 years of experience organizing tours of North Korea for visitors. What prospective tourists must remember, however, is that the communist regime in Pyongyang still does not permit individual travel, which means that the only way to travel to the country is within the context of organized, guided tours. In fact, visitors must remain with their tour guide at all times and are not permitted to leave their hotel unescorted. An all-inclusive 11-day trip from Singapore is priced at $2,200, while nine day tours cost $2,000. This price includes airfare, accommodation and most meals.