Air China denies Beijing-Pyongyang airline cut

Air China is one of the three largest air companies in China along with China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. [File photo: baidu.com]

Air China is moving to clarify a decision to cancel flights into North Korea.

China's flagship carrier says its move to cancel flights into Pyongyang is due to a lack of bookings, rather than being connected to the simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula between North Korea and the United States.

A Friday report on China Central Television (CCTV) stated Air China would suspend its flights from Beijing to Pyongyang starting from April 17.

Air China says it still expects to continue flying into Pyongyang, provided passenger numbers are sufficient to make the flights possible.

Air China is the only Chinese airline which flies into North Korea.

Its schedule lists three return flights a week to Pyongyang. However, the airline is often forced to cancel the flights due to a lack of passengers.

The last Air China flight into Pyongyang was on April 14.