On March 31, Air China launched flights to North Korea, making it the world's only foreign airline to fly regularly to the country's capital, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Beijing-Pyongyang flight route was postponed by three months after Air China said preparatory work took longer than expected.

Air China will fly the return trip three times per week, making Pyongyang a Star Alliance destination, the airline grouping led by Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and United Airlines.

Air China said previously that it saw the financial potential in the route, primarily from the Chinese tourist business.

North Korea's air links have been almost entirely provided by the Russian-built aircraft of state carrier Air Koryo.

Previously, China Southern Airlines had flown to Pyongyang, but stopped flights in 2006.