At Irkutsk Airport, one of the first major projects after the complex was transferred from federal to regional ownership is being prepared, the runway upgrade. 300 million rubles are planned for the next repair stage. The work will affect a 900 meter section in the center of the runway and the main taxiway, which is especially important for Airbus A330 and Boeing 777. The article also explains how the airport is being transferred to the region and why its further development remains a difficult task.

The upgrade of Irkutsk Airport’s runway will be one of the first projects implemented after the transfer of the enterprise’s property complex from federal to regional ownership, the airport said. According to preliminary estimates, 300 million rubles will be allocated for the next stage of repair work.
It is planned that the reconstruction will take place on a 900-meter section in the center of the runway. It will also affect the main taxiway, which will be able to accommodate Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft (which began flying to the airport this year). As the airport explains, today these wide-body aircraft "move along the runway to the takeoff position for departure".
"Under the rules, we must notify airlines 45 days in advance of reconstruction. At the moment, we have informed them that we are planning such work, but we have not specified the dates. Everything will depend on the timing of the transfer of documents from federal to regional ownership, so as not to carry out such work into the winter," said airport CEO Konstantin Bylinin. It was previously reported that the runway repair would be completed by the end of the year. The next task will be the development of the airfield complex.
Reconstruction of the runway has been underway at Irkutsk Airport since 2003. Initially, it was extended by 800 meters (400 meters on each side). Its length reached 3,565 meters, which allowed it to meet ICAO Category I requirements. In 2010–2011, major repairs were carried out on two 900-meter sections of the runway, with restrictions on aircraft arrival and departure times (including taxiways, the apron, and the fueling complex).
The decision to transfer the airport to regional authorities was made in accordance with the Presidential Decree of December 31, 2014, "On Improving the Efficiency of Air Transport Services for the Irkutsk Region." Under this document, local authorities will receive 100% of the airport’s shares, and all of its property will also be transferred to them, except for the air traffic management system facilities.
Previously, the development of air service in the city was expected through the construction of another airport — Irkutsk-Novy. Initially, construction of this airport was supposed to begin in 2010, but the plans were postponed indefinitely, which was explained by the lack of investors and insufficient funds in the state budget. Plans to build a new airport emerged because the existing airport is located within the city limits. Due to dense development around its territory, as well as frequent fog, it has limitations on expansion.