24 June 1925 is considered the official opening date of Irkutsk airport. 6 aircraft — participants of great flight on the route Moscow — Irkutsk — Ulan-Bator — Beijing arrived at Irkutsk Airport that day. Of these 6 planes, 4 were domestic and 2 were foreign. This flight was headed by captain I. P. Shmidt. The event was the beginning of aviation service in Siberia.
On August 10–13, 1928 the first postal/passengers flight on the seaplane route Irkutsk — Bodaybo with a Junkers F 13 that was named «Mossovet» took place.
August 1932 the greatest major air route Moscow — Vladivostok was opened. Irkutsk aviators started to perform flights on the route Irkutsk — Mogocha.
January 1948 - daily flights on the air routes Irkutsk — Moscow, Irkutsk — Bodaybo — Yakutsk were started.
On December 30, 1954 Irkutsk Airport was elevated to international status by means of Government of the Soviet Union № 2412–1153.
On September 15, 1956 the jet aircraftTupolev Tu-104 first arrived at Irkutsk aerodrome by tech-flight from Beijing. The Tupolev Tu-104-operated Moscow — Irkutsk route initiated on that day marked the first Soviet jet-airliner-operated passenger route. The flight was performed by Moscow crew headed by captain Mr. E. P. Barabash.
On March 7, 1975. The first aircraft of the second generation of civil jets Tupolev Tu-154 landed in Irkutsk.
April 4, 1975. The first flight to Moscow on Tupolev Tu-154 was performed.
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.
December 19, 1980 The first flight was performed on the route Irkutsk — Polyarnyi using Il-76, it was headed by air detachment commander Mr. v. I. Sviridov.
April 1, 1992 According to order № 238 d.d. 30 March Irkutsk United Air Group was reorganized. There were: State Enterprise " Irkutsk Airport " and Public Corporation «Air company «Baikal»
October 28, 1994. The certificate № 045-А-М of Intergovernmental Aviation Committee for accordance with certification requirements was given. The airport was accepted as suitable for international flights.
December 16, 1994 The acting terminal of international flights was put in commission.
July 14, 2004 The aerodrome got the certificate to accept international flight and landing-minimum 1 category ICAO 60.
On October 14, 2008 the work for lengthening the runway was completed.
April 10, 2009 Re-opening of the domestic terminal after reconstruction. The terminal is called "Crystal Gate".
November 13, 2009 - International Airport "Airport Irkutsk" held its first aircraft spotting session, becoming the third large city in Russia. The event has become a tradition.
July 2, 2010 - Airport "Irkutsk" celebrated its 85th anniversary.
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 "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 / 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 airport hotel "Air Harbour", a service of aviation service 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
The airport is actually located within the city. At the airport there are two paid parking area: 180 spaces and 80 spaces. At air terminals equipped with three stops for complex urban public transport. In addition, three times daily shuttle buses number 306 to Angarsk.
Periodical literature
Airport publishes its own regional industry newspaper "Irkutsk sky", dedicated to civil aviation in Irkutsk region. The publication contains interviews with the heads of airlines, airline news column, analytical materials. The newspaper is published bimonthly and distributed free in the airport terminals and the airlines' offices in Irkutsk.
Incidents and accidents
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. Of the 126 people on board the aircraft, 29 survived.
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.
