Irkutsk-based IrAero has announced new weekly winter routes linking Russia to the Philippines. Beginning late October 2025, the carrier will operate Irkutsk (Russia)–Kalibo (Philippines) and Khabarovsk (Russia)–Kalibo services. The Irkutsk–Kalibo route starts 25 Oct 2025 (Saturdays) via Guilin (China), and the Khabarovsk–Kalibo route starts 28 Oct 2025 (Tuesdays) via Ningbo (China). Both are one-stop flights using Russian regional jets. These additions complement IrAero’s network and tap into winter leisure travel demand.
Irkutsk (IKT)–Kalibo (KLO) via Guilin: Weekly on Saturdays from 25Oct2025. Flight IO2187 departs Irkutsk 04:00, stops in Guilin (08:10–09:10) en route, and arrives Kalibo 12:10. Return IO2188 leaves Kalibo 14:00, stops Guilin (17:00–18:00), and lands Irkutsk 22:20.
Khabarovsk (KHV)–Kalibo (KLO) via Ningbo/Blagoveshchensk: Weekly on Tuesdays from 28Oct2025. IO2177 departs Khabarovsk 06:40, makes technical stops in Blagoveshchensk (Russia) and Ningbo (China), arriving Kalibo 13:15. Return IO2178 departs Kalibo 14:40, stops in Ningbo (18:40–19:40), and arrives Khabarovsk 01:30+1.
Both services use IrAero’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) regional jets (around 100 seats). The SSJ100 – a domestically produced Russian regional jet – is well-suited for these medium-range international hops. In fact, IrAero already operates Superjet 100s and has plans to take delivery of many more. Using the SSJ100 allows IrAero to rely on domestic aircraft amid Western sanctions. The scheduled flight time (including the Chinese stop) is roughly 8 hours each way, with the SSJ100’s capacity matching the expected passenger demand on these leisure routes.
Kalibo International Airport (Aklan province) is one of the gateways to Boracay’s famous white-sand beaches. Boracay is a world-famous Philippine beach resort, and as one aviation expert noted, Boracay “welcomes tourists without restrictions”. This means Russian travelers (who face no visa or quarantine barriers) can visit easily. IrAero’s new routes clearly target the winter vacation market: by flying directly from Siberia and Russia’s Far East to Kalibo, IrAero brings Russian (and potentially neighboring) tourists to Boracay’s tropical resorts during Russia’s cold season. The weekly schedule (Saturday departures from Irkutsk, Tuesday from Khabarovsk) and use of efficient SSJ100 jets reflect the strategy of offering year-round connectivity to this popular leisure destination.
Ilonggo Traveler 
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