Philippine Tourism Officials Celebrate New IrAero Airlines Flight from Irkutsk to Kalibo
The inaugural flight of IrAero Airlines linking Irkutsk to Kalibo marks a significant development in tourism ties between the Philippines and Russia.
Philippine Tourism Officials Celebrate New IrAero Airlines Flight from Irkutsk to Kalibo
Russia’s IrAero Airlines has taken a significant step by inaugurating its flight service connecting Irkutsk to Kalibo, central Philippines, on October 25. This flight symbolizes enhanced air connectivity and tourism relations between the Philippines and Russia, warmly welcomed by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT).
Onboard were 95 passengers headed for Boracay, who were joyfully greeted at Kalibo International Airport with a water-cannon salute and cultural performances that reflected the rich heritage and warmth of the island.
Among the welcoming committee were:
- Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines
- Artyom Tsinamdzgvrishvili, Russian Trade Commissioner
- Jose Enrique Miraflores, Aklan Governor
- Juris Sucro, Kalibo Mayor
- Azucena Pallugna, DOT Director
Representatives from various government agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) also participated in the celebrations.
New Weekly Service
IrAero Airlines will schedule weekly flights from Irkutsk to Kalibo every Saturday until March 2026, with a brief layover in Guilin, China. In addition, another route from Khabarovsk to Kalibo will commence shortly, on October 28, operating every Tuesday until March 26, 2026, also featuring technical stops in Blagoveshchensk, Russia and Ningbo, China. Both routes will utilize the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100), a regional aircraft accommodating approximately 100 passengers.
