Irkutsk Airport
Lasting Impressions....
"Both [terminals] resemble a Bus Terminal from about the 1960s." (?)
Quick Reference Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date info:
- benches
- plastic seats with armrests
A few airport reviews from the archives
by namche
Old Irkutsk airport is a typical shabby old ex-Soviet building (a new terminal is being built next to it). It can put you off, BUT, bear in mind that in USSR and Russia the safest and (usually) cleanest places in cities are always train stations and airports. To enter the departures you have to go through security check and show a proof of a ticket, so it actually eliminates the homeless and mafia-types from coming in.
In the waiting rooms on the first floor you can freely use your sleeping pad and sleeping bag. There are usually some other people waiting for morning flights to remote destinations. Take ear-plugs, the announcements can be annoying. We felt safe, relaxed, and had a great night! Lots of staff saw us, including the security, and no one made a problem.
Our flight in the morning was 6 hours late because of the fog, and we also slept some more near the departure gates - no one minded.
The facilities at the airport are poor, only a couple of bars, as usual - a little filthy Russian toilets, but in general it is a really friendly airport. I would definitely sleep there once more and remember - just don't be put off by the bad-looking building.
by jimbo
I was here for 7 hours. The only food for sale was chocolate bars. The place was filthy. The only seating was narrow benches like those in bus stops, and there wasn't nearly enough of these so most people were just standing. Generally the place reminded me a lot of a bus station. One toilet (not one set of toilets, actually one toilet) with no toilet paper. Only one departure screen which worked intermittently. Staff had little to no English. Boarding for each flight wasn't announced, I just tried to go to the gate every 15 minutes and got there eventually.
To their credit, signage included English, as did the announcements. And it wasn't at all smoky.
