Airport Guide to Irkutsk (IKT)

Airport Overview

Terminal Transfer | Getting into Town | Car Parking | Information Desks | Airport Facilities

Irkutsk International Airport (IKT) is situated 5 miles (8km) from central Irkutsk in Eastern Siberia, Russia. Irkutsk is the gateway to central Russia and is one of the largest cities in Siberia.

The airport’s two passenger terminals are within easy walking distance of each other, but passengers travelling during winter should remember to be dressed for the occasion as “freezing” does not even begin to describe Siberian winters. Even a short walk between terminals or between your plane and a terminal will leave you chilled to the core.

Many of the airlines based at Irkutsk International Airport are Russian carriers or from neighbouring countries such as Mongolia and Tajikistan. One of the easiest ways to get a flight to Irkutsk International Airport is via Moscow, Beijing and Antalya in Turkey.

Irkutsk Airport is close to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater lakes. The airport is well located for passengers wishing to explore some of the sights of central Russia.

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Terminal Transfer

Terminals are within walking distance of one another.

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Getting into Town

Train: The Trans Siberian Railway has a major stop in Irkutsk’s city centre. There is a metro line under construction in Irkutsk, but it won’t be completed until 2014.

Taxis: The 15-minute taxi drive from Irkutsk Airport into central Irkutsk generally costs a minimum of RUB 200 (about £4) for the first passenger and RUB 100 (£2) for each additional passenger. However, these prices are only available if you are prepared to bargain hard – fares are generally more expensive than this. Most taxis in Irkutsk do not have meters and passengers need to agree on a price before getting into the taxi. Sometimes it is easier to get a cheaper taxi if you walk away from the airport terminal building and find a taxi away from the crowd. Generally, some Russian is necessary when bargaining with taxi drivers. Taxis travelling from Irkutsk to the airport tend to be a lot cheaper (sometimes less than half the price) than those going from the airport into town.

Bus: Buses are the cheapest way to get between the airport and central Irkutsk. Trolleybus No. 4 runs between the airport and Ulitsa Lenina in Irkutsk. Marshrutka Bus No. 20 also runs between the airport and the train station in town. Tickets tend to cost RUB 10 to 12 (about £0.25), but some drivers have been known to charge up to RUB 20 (£0.40) for a ticket into town. The trip can take as long as 30 minutes during rush hour. During the day, trolleybuses generally leave every 5 to 15 minutes and buses leave every 20 to 40 minutes.

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Car Parking

Plenty of parking is available at the airport. The first ten minutes are free and thereafter it costs RUB 50 (£1) per hour. There are a number of private car parks close to the airport with fees ranging from RUB 70 (£1.50) to 300 (£6) per day and RUB 1600 (£34) per month.

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Information Desks

The airport does not have an information desk. Information signs at the airport are in Russian and English and flight announcements are generally in Russian, but sometimes in English. A tourist information centre is situated in Europe House in town on Engels Street.

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Airport Facilities

Money and communications: A bank, Auto Exchange Machines, post office and currency exchange desk are all available at the airport.

Luggage: Left luggage is available at the airport. Passengers have to go through a security checkpoint in order to place their luggage in storage and the luggage item cannot weigh more than 30kg in order to be placed in storage. It costs between RUB 50 (£1) and RUB 150 (£3) per item of luggage per day.

Conference and business: Conference and meeting rooms are available at the airport, these include press conference facilities. The nearby Hotel Vozdushnaya Gavan also has conference and business facilities available.

Other facilities: A medical service is available at the airport, as are a baby and parent room and access for persons with disabilities.

Wi-Fi: Although no Wi-Fi is available there is a 24-hour Internet cafe at the airport.

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