In Irkutsk, after five years of reconstruction, the new domestic terminal Crystal Gate opened. The airport can serve up to 800 passengers an hour, has new equipment and an updated baggage belt, and 450 million rubles were spent on its reconstruction. More work lies ahead, a project to rebuild the existing runway is being prepared, with funds promised next year.

Now one can be proud. Since Friday, Irkutsk has been receiving air passengers through the “Crystal Gates.” That is the name given to the new airport terminal. The reconstructed domestic terminal was opened five years after the renovation began. The ceremonial opening was attended by the Minister of Transport of Russia, the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, the governor of the region, and journalists. And one more small but very important guest. Without it, the housewarming might not have taken place at all.
The first floor is the area for local airline passengers. The second is for those traveling beyond the region. And even if everyone invited to the opening today had flown into Irkutsk at the same time, absolutely everyone could have been served here in at most an hour. After all, in that time the terminal is capable of handling up to 800 people.
One of the main advantages of the new terminal is that all the equipment in it has been replaced with new. This includes the baggage claim belt, which in the old terminal caused the greatest number of complaints from passengers.
VIP guests also appreciated the terminal: the country’s Minister of Transport Igor Levitin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Dmitry Mezentsev, and Governor Igor Yesipovsky. They note that such facilities are not often opened without financial support from the federal treasury. 450 million rubles were spent on the reconstruction. Work to improve the entire airport will not end there. Alexey Rendorevsky, Director for Construction and Reconstruction of the airport: "There is another project, it is in the development stage — the reconstruction of the existing runway. With the aim of bringing it up to operational standards. Because its service life is 20 years, and major repairs are necessary".
And the country’s Ministry of Finance has already confirmed that funds for these purposes will be allocated next year. After all, building a new airport outside the city does not mean that the current terminal can be forgotten. It must meet all standards. The first floor is the area for local airline passengers. The second is for those traveling beyond the region. And even if everyone invited to the opening today had flown into Irkutsk at the same time, absolutely everyone could have been served here in at most an hour. After all, in that time the terminal is capable of handling up to 800 people.
One of the main advantages of the new terminal is that all the equipment in it has been replaced with new. This includes the baggage claim belt, which in the old terminal caused the greatest number of complaints from passengers.
VIP guests also appreciated the terminal: the country’s Minister of Transport Igor Levitin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Dmitry Mezentsev, and Governor Igor Yesipovsky. They note that such facilities are not often opened without financial support from the federal treasury. 450 million rubles were spent on the reconstruction. Work to improve the entire airport will not end there. Alexey Rendorevsky, Director for Construction and Reconstruction of the airport: "There is another project, it is in the development stage — the reconstruction of the existing runway. With the aim of bringing it up to operational standards. Because its service life is 20 years, and major repairs are necessary".
And the country’s Ministry of Finance has already confirmed that funds for these purposes will be allocated next year. After all, building a new airport outside the city does not mean that the current terminal can be forgotten. It must meet all standards.