New direct air route links China's Sanya to Irkutsk in Russia

In the early hours of March 8, a passenger plane from the city of Irkutsk in Russia landed smoothly at Sanya Phoenix International Airport — representing the official launch of the Sanya-Irkutsk international passenger route.

It was also the first international passenger route opened in 2026 by the airport, located in the resort city of Sanya in China's southernmost province of Hainan.

Irkutsk is situated in the heart of Eastern Siberia in Russia. It's an important transportation hub and a globally renowned cultural and tourist city, boasting world-class natural tourism resources and significant market potential.

The launch of the direct flight route is said to precisely meet the needs of Russian tourists seeking to escape the current bracing cold there for a tropical holiday in Hainan — in the process sustaining the winter tourism boom on the balmy island province.

It also provides a convenient option for local Hainan and China transfer passengers to explore the exotic landscape of Russia.

To date, with the continued deepening of China-Russia aviation cooperation, Sanya Phoenix International Airport has opened routes to 11 Russian cities, with a total of 26 flights per week.