International Airport Irkutsk

{{short description|International airport in Irkutsk, Russia}}

{{update|date=March 2018}}{{Infobox airport

| name = Irkutsk International Airport

| nativename = Международный
Аэропорт Иркутск

| nativename-a =

| nativename-r =

| image = Irkutsk Airport.png

| image-width = 250

| image2 = Irkutsk (IKT - UIII) AN2335801.jpg

| image2-width = 250

| IATA = IKT

| ICAO = UIII

| type = Military / Public

| owner = Russian Federation

| operator = JSC "International Airport Irkutsk"

| city-served = Irkutsk

| location = Irkutsk, Russia

| opened =

| hub =

| focus_city =

| pushpin_map = #Russia Irkutsk Oblast#Russia#World

| pushpin_mapsize = 160

| pushpin_mark = Airplane_silhouette.svg

| pushpin_label = IKT

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Irkutsk Oblast

| elevation-f = 1675

| elevation-m = 511

| coordinates = {{coord|52|16|05|N|104|23|20|E|display=inline,title}}

| website = {{URL|https://iktport.ru/en/}}

| metric-elev =

| metric-rwy =

| r1-number = 12/30

| r1-length-f = 11,702

| r1-length-m = 3,564

| r1-surface = polymer asphalt concrete

| stat-year = 2018

| stat1-header = Passengers

| stat1-data = {{increase}} 2,213,000

| stat2-header = Servicing of cargo (in tons)

| stat2-data = {{increase}} 31,933

| footnotes = Source:{{in lang|ru}}[http://www.aviapages.ru/airports/19468001008935855.shtml Aviapages.ru Airport Irkutsk/Irkutsk]{{in lang|ru}}[http://www.iktport.ru/20110114502/novosti/growpass.html "Airport Irkutsk" in 2010 showed an increase in passenger traffic]{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130217013231/http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=RS80666&sch=irkutsk World Aero Data]}}

| LID = ИКТ

| utc = UTC+08:00

| timezone = +8

}}

Irkutsk International Airport (Russian: Международный Аэропорт Иркутск) {{airport codes|IKT|UIII}} is an international airport on the outskirts of Irkutsk, Russia, at a distance of 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Lake Baikal.

Operations

The airport has daily domestic flights to Moscow, Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Sochi. It has regional daily flights to Ust-Kut, Bratsk, Bodaybo, Kirensk and other Russian cities.

Due to its proximity to the Angara Reservoir, the airport is subject to a microclimate of foggy weather. When the airport is closed due to bad weather conditions, Bratsk Airport, Ulan-Ude Airport, Irkutsk Northwest Airport, and Belaya (air base) serve as diversion airports.

History

{{unreferenced section|date=March 2022}}

= 1920s to 1930s =

The Irkutsk Airport opened on 24 June 1925. Six aircraft from Moscow landed at the airport as part of a flight to Beijing. Of these six planes, four were domestic and two were foreign. This flight was headed by captain I.P. Shmidt. The event was the beginning of aviation service in Siberia.

On 10–13 August 1928 the first postal/passenger flight on the Irkutsk–Bodaybo seaplane route arrived. It was a Junkers F 13 named Mossovet. In August 1932 the air route from Moscow to Vladivostok opened with a stop in Irkutsk. Irkutsk aviators started to fly the Irkutsk to Mogocha route.

= 1940s to 1960s =

In January 1948, daily flights on the Irkutsk–Moscow, Irkutsk–Bodaybo–Yakutsk air routes were started. On December 30, 1954, Irkutsk Airport was elevated to international status.

On September 15, 1956, the Tupolev Tu-104 first arrived in Irkutsk by tech-flight from Beijing. The Moscow–Irkutsk route initiated that day marked the first Soviet jet-airliner-operated passenger route. The flight was performed by a Moscow crew headed by captain E.P. Barabash.

= 1970s to 1990s =

On March 7, 1975, the first Tupolev Tu-154 jets landed in Irkutsk. On April 4, 1975, the first flight to Moscow on Tupolev Tu-154 was performed.

On November 11, 1980, the first Il-76 CCCP-76525 arrived in Irkutsk. The crew consisted of: flight instructor МГА Mr. M. V. Ptitsyn, the commander УТО Mr. V. F. Podshivalov, captain-probationer A.V. Bobylkov and other flying experts. On December 19, 1980, the first flight was performed on the route Irkutsk–Polyarnyi using the Il-76. It was headed by air detachment commander Mr. v. I. Sviridov.

On April 1, 1992, according to order No. 238 d.d. 30 March, Irkutsk United Air Group was reorganized. There were Irkutsk Airport State Enterprise (SE "Irkutsk Airport") and Air company Baikal Public Corporation.

On October 28, 1994, certificate No. 045-А-М from the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee for accordance with certification requirements was given. The airport was accepted as suitable for international flights.

On December 16, 1994, the acting terminal of international flights was put into commission.

= 2000s =

On April 12, 2002, the aerodrome operator changed its name to Irkutsk Airport Federal State Unitary Enterprise.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

On July 14, 2004, the aerodrome received its certificate to accept international flights and landing-minimum 1 category ICAO 60.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

On October 14, 2008, the work for lengthening the runway (400 m towards Lake Baikal) was completed.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The domestic terminal was re-opened on April 10, 2009, after reconstruction. The terminal is called Crystal Gate.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Irkutsk International Airport held its first aircraft spotting session on November 13, 2009, becoming the third large city in Russia (after Moscow and Novosibirsk). The event has become a tradition.{{in lang|ru}}[http://iktport.ru/20091113413/novosti/spotting-sessiya.html November 13 at Irkutsk airport for the first time was aircraft spotting session] // Official site of JSC "International airport" Irkutsk ""{{in lang|ru}}[http://as.baikal.tv/news/new.html?newsid=2010071315 In the Irkutsk airport today held a summer aircraft spotting]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} //News "AS Baikal TV"

On July 2, 2010, Irkutsk Airport celebrated its 85th anniversary.{{in lang|ru}}[http://iktport.ru/20100701477/novosti/aeroportu-irkutsk-ispolnilos-85-let.html "Airport Irkutsk" marks 85 years] // Official site of JSC "International airport" Irkutsk ""

On March 1, 2011, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Irkutsk Airport became the open joint-stock company International airport Irkutsk.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Technical characteristics

File:Ground movement and aircraft parking chart of Irkutsk aerodrome.jpg

File:Gate International Airport Irkutsk.jpg

File:Vehicles at Irkutsk Airport.jpg

Irkutsk International Airport has a rather unusual layout, with the passenger terminals being off the western end of the airfield's only runway, at an exact 270° heading. The airport's runway is coated with a substance known as {{Transliteration|ru|armobetonnym}}, but is also rather steep, featuring a 30-metre vertical drop between the west and east runway ends. The total capacity of the two passenger terminals is 1450 passengers per hour. For loads up to 30 tons, the cargo terminal has at its disposal diesel forklifts, hoists, a container platform, and electronic/mechanical weigh scales. The airport complex also includes the Air Harbour airport hotel, a service of aviation service (board food workshop) repair facility and medical services. There is a VIP lounge in the international terminal building.

Passenger capacity:

  • Domestic terminal: 800 passengers/hour
  • International terminal: 650 passengers/hour

Cargo terminal: area = 2.2 hectares with a capacity of 150 tonnes per day.

Fire fighting equipment: cat VIII

=Runway characteristics=

The class of the artificial landing strip - B (according to the length of the landing strip), corresponding to the first category of ICAO.

=ETOPS Diversion airport=

Irkutsk airport serves as a diversion airport for transcontinental flights and Polar route 2.[http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_16/polar_fig3.html Boeing-conducted Airport safety and operational assessments][http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_16/polar_fig1.html New Cross-Polar Routes]

Airlines and destinations

=Passenger=

File:Boeing 767-300ER S7 Airlines in IKT 01.jpg of S7 Airlines]]File:Tupolev Tu-154M, S7 - Siberia Airlines AN0922895.jpg Tupolev Tu-154M in new livery parked at Irkutsk Airport.]]

File:Angara Airlines Antonov An-148-100E on finals at Irkutsk Airport.jpg Antonov An-148 landing at Irkutsk Airport.]]

{{Airport-dest-list

|Aeroflot | Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,{{cite web|url=https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/aeroflot-to-launch-flights-to-bangkok-from-irkutsk-in-january/|title=Aeroflot to launch flights to Bangkok from Irkutsk in January|publisher=ASEAN Briefing|date=25 December 2022|accessdate=29 December 2022}} Moscow–Sheremetyevo, Phuket

|Air China | Beijing–Capital (begins 27 April 2025){{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Air China Adds Beijing – Irkutsk Service in NS25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250304-cans25ikt |website=aeroroutes.com |publisher=Aeroroutes |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=4 March 2025}}

|{{nowrap|Alrosa Mirny Air Enterprise}}| Mirny

|Angara Airlines | Bodaybo, Bratsk, Chara, Erbogachen, Kirensk, Nizhneangarsk, Ust-Kut

| Aurora | Khabarovsk

| Avia Traffic Company | Osh

| Azur Air | Seasonal charter: Nha Trang,{{cite news |last1=Серебрякова |first1=Татьяна |title=В продаже появились туры во Вьетнам с вылетами в Нячанг из девяти российских аэропортов |url=https://www.tourdom.ru/news/v-prodazhe-poyavilis-tury-vo-vetnam-s-vyletami-v-nyachang-iz-devyati-rossiyskikh-aeroportov |access-date=3 March 2025 |publisher=Профессиональный портал TourDom.ru — проект ООО «Служба Банко» |date=1 March 2025 |language=ru}} Pattaya, Phuket{{cite news |title=AZUR Air Expands Phuket Network in NW23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231102-zfnw23hkt |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=AeroRoutes |date=2 November 2023 |language=en-CA}}

| Hainan Airlines | Beijing–Capital{{cite web |title=Hainan Airlines Resumes Beijing – Irkutsk Service From late-Dec 2023 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231128-hudec23ikt |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=28 November 2023}}

| Ikar | Seasonal charter: Phuket

| IrAero | Blagoveshchensk, Bodaybo, Chara, Chita, Guilin, Hanoi,{{cite web |title=IrAero Adds Vietnam / Mongolia Service in 2Q23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230509-io2q23int |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=9 May 2023}} Harbin, Kyzyl, Lensk, Mama, Manzhouli, Mirny, Nanchang,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=IrAero NW24 Cam Ranh / Phu Quoc Routing Changes |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240920-ionw24vn |access-date=20 September 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=20 September 2024 |language=en-CA}} Neryungri, Novosibirsk, Olyokminsk, Polyarny, Talakan, Ulaanbaatar,{{cite web |title=IrAero Adds Vietnam / Mongolia Service in 2Q23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230509-io2q23int |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=9 May 2023}} Ulan-Ude, Ust-Kut

| Izhavia | Izhevsk{{cite news |last1=Глазова |first1=Ольга |title=Из Ижевска откроют авиарейсы до Иркутска |url=https://izhlife.ru/road/iz-izhevska-otkroyut-aviareysy-do-irkutska.html |access-date=28 August 2023 |work=izhlife.ru |date=27 August 2023 |language=ru}}

| KrasAvia | Krasnoyarsk–International

| NordStar | Novosibirsk, Ufa

| Nordwind Airlines | Kazan

|Pobeda | Moscow–Sheremetyevo

| Red Wings Airlines | Novokuznetsk

|Rossiya Airlines | Krasnoyarsk–International,{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Aeroflot expands Krasnoyarsk market in S20 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/286598/aeroflot-expands-krasnoyarsk-market-in-s20/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=1 October 2019}} Saint Petersburg

|S7 Airlines{{cite web|title=S7 Airlines flight schedule|url=https://www.s7.ru/en/timetable/|website=www.s7.ru|publisher=S7 Airlines}} | Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Beijing–Daxing,{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230314-s7cn|title=S7 Airlines Resumes Mainland China Service From May 2023|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=14 March 2023|accessdate=19 March 2023}} Blagoveshchensk, Bratsk, Chita, Fergana, Guangzhou,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines Resumes Irkutsk – Guangzhou From mid-Dec 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240703-s7dec24iktcan |access-date=3 July 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=3 July 2024 |language=en-CA}} Khabarovsk, Krabi (begins {{date|2025-10-26}}),{{cite web |title=Main > Schedule > Irkutsk — Krabi |url=https://www.s7.ru/en/timetable/IKT/KBV?departureDate=26-10-2025&type=OW |website=www.s7.ru |publisher=S7 Airlines}} Krasnoyarsk-International, Kyzyl, Moscow–Domodedovo, Neryungri, Novosibirsk, Omsk,{{cite news |title=Прямой авиарейс из Иркутска в Омск запустила S7 Airlines |url=https://irksib.ru/allnews/78-transport/41301-pryamoj-aviarejs-iz-irkutska-v-omsk-zapustila-s7-airlines |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=ИркСиб |date=18 October 2023 |language=ru-ru}} Osh, Pattaya,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines Files Irkutsk – Utapao Schedule in 2Q25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241121-s72q25utp |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=21 November 2024 |language=en-CA}} Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Phuket,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines Resumes Irkutsk – Phuket in NW24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240613-s7nw24hkt |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=13 June 2024 |language=en-CA}} Saint Petersburg,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines schedules new domestic routes in S19 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/284007/s7-airlines-schedules-new-domestic-routes-in-s19/ |access-date=23 April 2019 |work=Routesonline |date=23 April 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines S19 Domestic network addition as of 04JAN19 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/282302/s7-airlines-s19-domestic-network-addition-as-of-04jan19/ |access-date=11 January 2019 |work=Routesonline |date=6 January 2019}} Shanghai–Pudong, Sochi,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines adds Irkutsk – Adler/Sochi service in S20 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/286182/s7-airlines-adds-irkutsk-adlersochi-service-in-s20/ |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=Routesonline |date=4 September 2019}} Ufa, Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Yekaterinburg

| SiLA | Kazachinskoye, Ust-Ilimsk{{cite news |title=Авиакомпания "СиЛА" открыла продажу билетов из Иркутска в Усть-Илимск и Казачинское |url=https://www.irk.ru/news/20231218/plane/ |access-date=18 December 2023 |work=www.irk.ru |publisher=Твой Иркутск |date=18 December 2023}}

| Ural Airlines | Dushanbe,{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Ural Airlines Resumes 4 Irkutsk Regional Routes in NW24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241015-u6nw24ikt |access-date=20 October 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=15 October 2024 |language=en-CA}} Moscow–Domodedovo, Namangan, Osh, Tashkent, Yekaterinburg

| Utair | Krasnoyarsk–International, Tomsk,{{cite news |last1=Лобанова |first1=Мария |title=С апреля этого года из Томска напрямую можно будет улететь еще в один город |url=https://ngs70.ru/text/world/2025/02/17/75116291/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=НГС70.ру |publisher=Сетевое издание «Томск онлайн» |date=17 February 2025 |language=ru}} Ufa, Ust-Kut{{cite news |title=Utair NS24 Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240402-utns24 |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=2 April 2024 |language=en-CA}}

|Uzbekistan Airways | Namangan, Tashkent{{cite news |script-title=ru:Самолёты начнут летать из Иркутска в Ташкент напрямую |url=https://ircity.ru/news/35780/ |access-date=5 March 2019 |work=ircity.ru |publisher=Информационное агентство «Ирсити» |date=5 March 2019 |language=ru}}

|Yakutia Airlines | Almaty, Yakutsk

}}

=Cargo=

{{Airport-dest-list

|Volga-Dnepr Airlines| Kolkata

}}

Statistics

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%" width=align=

|+ Busiest routes at International Airport Irkutsk (by number of passengers) 2015{{cite web|title=В аэропорту Иркутск подвели итоги 2015 года|url=http://www.iktport.ru/201601201085/novosti/vaeroportuirkutskpodveliitogi2015goda.html|publisher=ОАО «Международный Аэропорт Иркутск»|access-date=16 January 2014}}

Rank||Country||Region||City||Airport||Airlines||Number of passengers
1

|{{RUS}}

|{{flagicon|Moscow}} Moscow / {{flagicon|Moscow Oblast}} Moscow Oblast

|Moscow

|Moscow Domodedovo Airport, Sheremetyevo International Airport, Vnukovo International Airport

|S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, Aeroflot, Transaero

|614,888

2

|{{RUS}}

|{{flagicon|Novosibirsk Oblast}} Novosibirsk Oblast

|Novosibirsk

|Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport

|Angara, IrAero, NordStar, S7 Airlines

|139,208

3

|{{THA}}

|Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Phuket Province

|Bangkok, Phuket City

|Suvarnabhumi Airport, Phuket International Airport

|Azur Air, S7 Airlines, Pegas Fly

|125,418

4

|{{CHN}}

|Municipality of Beijing

|Beijing, Manzhouli, Harbin, Hong Kong

|Beijing Capital Airport, Manzhouli Xijiao Airport, Harbin, Hong Kong Airport

|Hainan Airlines, S7 Airlines

|106,323

5

|{{RUS}}

|{{flagicon|Khabarovsk Krai}} Khabarovsk Krai

|Khabarovsk

|Khabarovsk Novy Airport

|Aurora Airlines, IrAero

|{{0}}76,340

6

|{{RUS}}

|{{flagicon|Primorsky Krai}} Primorsky Krai

|Vladivostok

|Knevichi Airport

|S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines

|{{0}}50,251

Ground transport

The airport is located within the city limits. At the airport there are two paid parking areas: 180 spaces (near the international terminal) and 80 spaces (near the domestic airline terminal).

The air terminals are equipped with three stops for complex urban public transport. In addition, shuttle bus number 306 has a route to Angarsk which runs three times a day (2010 data).

Periodical literature

The airport publishes its own regional industry newspaper, Irkutsk Sky, dedicated to civil aviation in the Irkutsk region. The publication contains interviews with the heads of airlines, an airline news column, and analytical materials. The newspaper is published bimonthly and distributed free in the airport terminals and the airlines' offices in Irkutsk.{{in lang|ru}}[http://iktport.ru/20110215514/novosti/airport-gazeta.html "Airport Irkutsk" presented the first edition of the newspaper devoted to civil aviation of the Irkutsk region]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 25 July 1971, Aeroflot Flight 1912 crashed after it touched down short of the runway. 97 of the 118 people on board perished in the crash.
  • On 9 February 1976, Aeroflot Flight 3739 crashed shortly after takeoff. Of the 115 people on board, 24 perished in the accident.
  • On 4 July 2001, Vladivostok Air Flight 352 rolled sharply, stalled and crashed whilst on approach into Irkutsk. All 145 people on board were killed.
  • On 9 July 2006, S7 Airlines Flight 778 overshot the runway, and crashed through a concrete barricade, hit a group of private garages and burst into flames, killing 125 out 203 people on board. The only runway had to be closed, and incoming planes were diverted to the runway of the nearby Irkut aviation plant, where Sukhoi fighters and the Beriev Be-200 are produced.{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20060709-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A310-324 F-OGYP Irkutsk Airport (IKT)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2017-04-11}}
  • On 1 July 2016, an IL-76 belonging to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) of the Russian Federation, which took off from Irkutsk International airport, crashed in the early morning near Lake Baikal on its way to fight a forest fire in the area. All ten people on board were members of EMERCOM, and there were no survivors.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}