The Worst Airline in the World is in North Korea

The flag carrier of North Korea, Air Koryo, has been ranked for many years as the worst airline in the world. But is it really that bad? Air Koryo is the only airline in North Korea, and has a regular schedule to a select few destinations in China and Russia. The cites Air Koryo flies to now is Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Vladivostok. The airline has a very good safety record— only one fatal accident in 1983.

Check in at Pyongyang airport is very quick and efficient since flights are few and far between. During the flight, there are complimentary North Korean magazines and newspapers. In flight entertainment includes the TV that plays endless renditions of propaganda.

So why is it rated so bad? The planes are old and loud, the meals are meh, and the customer service is poor. But things have definitely improved.

To most reviewers though, the quality wasn’t bad. The fact that this is North Korea’s airline is what fascinates travellers.

Smith O. InSmith, O. (2016, August 8). In defence of Koryo Air, the world’s ‘worst’ airline. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/north-korea/articles/koryo-air-in-defence-of-the-worst-airline-in-the-world/.

The race to the South Pole

The South Pole was one of the last places ever reached by mankind. Its sheer isolation from any civilization and extreme weather makes it an incredibly challenging journey to get there. Antarctica wasn’t even seen by human eyes until the early 19th century. 

In 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Scott raced to be the first to the South Pole. Only one team made it back alive. 

Scott’s mission was for the glories of the British empire. He had previously led a mission to Antartica and was determined to make a name for himself. His competitor Amundsen was already an established explorer. He famously marked his name in history by leading the first expedition to successfully traverse the Northwest passage. In his experiences, he learned about how Inuit people used sled dogs and animal skins to better survive and travel in cold conditions. 

Antarctica, as we all know, is an incredibly hostile place. From the coast, it’s 900 miles to the South pole. From the Ross ice shelf, there’s a 125 mile hike up the Beardmore glacier and 350 more miles to the polar plateau. 

The race started in June 1910. Scott’s strategy to get to the poles was via ponies and motorized equipment. It proved to be a fatal mistake. The Antarctic climate was extremely harsh. The ponies and motors were absolutely useless. 

Amundsen used sled dogs that were able to function very well. He planned and laid out supply depots and used animal skins.   

The victory ultimately went to Amundsen. He reached the South Pole in December 1911. It was a relatively quick trek, without any significant challenges. They were able to return to ship a month later. Scott’s trek arrived at the South pole a month later. When he reached the pole, Amundsen’s Norweigian flag was already there.

Going back to their ship proved to be a serious nightmare. The temperature for going back to their ship plunged to unexpectedly low levels. Consistent days of -40C are deadly. One by one, they succumbed to frostbite on the Ross ice shelf. 

It’s a tragic story in some ways. The temperatures on that mission was a rare event. It was just unfortunate that the conditions were as bad as they were. Others criticized Scott that he was unprepared. He was using ponies in a frigid environment. 

Amundsen’s end is just as interesting. He was flying on a rescue mission in 1928 and was never seen again. But his legacy lives on with the Northwest passage and the South pole.

Vox. (2019). The deadly race to the South Pole. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpcZmuz2LGY.