Spring Airlines (9C, Shanghai Hongqiao) has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for North Korean traffic rights which, if granted, would make it the first budget carrier to serve the reclusive state.

According to WCARN, Spring is planning to operate a 4x weekly Shanghai Pudong-Pyongyang service on-board A320-200 aircraft beginning in February of next year. A decision is expected before year-end.

At present, Air China (CA, Beijing Capital) is the only foreign operator to serve North Korea offering a 2x weekly service between Beijing Capital and Pyongyang. National carrier Air Koryo (JS, Pyongyang) offers scheduled passenger services from Pyongyang to Beijing and Shenyang Taoxian International in China and Vladivostok in Russia.