Bratsk (airport): past, present, future

The airport of Bratsk is the second transport hub in the region after Irkutsk by the volume of air passengers flow. It is located not far from the city of the same name. The enterprise has proved itself well and two years ago it was popular among domestic tour operators.

Historical reference

The decision to build an air transportation hub near the city of Bratsk was made back in September 1941. However, construction began later, and the airport began operating only in July 1956. Regular passenger flights were launched only in September of the same year along the Bratsk-Irkutsk route. In 1957, regular flights with Moscow were opened.

The volume of traffic increased significantly after the construction of the Bratsk hydroelectric power station began. From 1960 to 1961, passenger traffic increased almost fourfold - to 112 thousand. In 1964, an air squadron was established on the basis of the airport. In 1975, the airfield began to take large aircraft of the Tu-154 and Yak-40 type.

By 1987 the program of development of an infrastructure and an airdrome complex of the enterprise was realized. And from 1988 to 1989 "Bratsk" (airport) serviced all air transportation of the region in connection with the reconstruction of the Irkutsk air hub. By 1995, a new runway was built, meeting international standards, after which the airport received international status. At this time, the international cargo air service begins. Passenger international charter flights were launched only in 2012. However, the international air service was closed two years later.

Aerodrome and air terminal complex

The terminal building is two-storied. On the ground floor there is a passenger lounge for waiting and registration, a cafe. On the second floor there is a dining room.

There is not a single ATM or an exchange in the whole terminal. There is no access to the Internet either.

Not far from the airport there is an economy class hotel "Aerobratsk". Usually transit passengers or those whose flight is delayed here stop.

The aerodrome has one cement concrete runway. Its dimensions along the length are 3.16 km, along the width - 0.06 km.

Interesting Facts

In the Soviet period, the airport of Bratsk twice served air transportation of state significance. The first time - in 1959, when the city was visited by a famous statesman and industrialist from the United States, William Harriman. The second time - when Fidel Castro came to Bratsk on an official visit.

Accepted types of aircraft

The airfield complex is designed for receiving and sending airliners of modifications:

• "An" - 2, 12, 24, 26, 30, 72, 74, 124, 140;
• "Il" - 76, 86, 96, 114;
• "Tu" - 134, 154, 204;
• "Yak" - 40, 42;
• Airbus - A319, A320, A310;
• Boeing - 737, 747, 757;
• "ATP-42";
• "L-101";
• All types of helicopters.

Route network, airlines

"Bratsk" (airport) serves regular flights of air carriers:

• "Angara";
• KrasAvia
• "Yakutia"
• S7.

The airport's route network includes the following cities:

• Moscow (Domodedovo);
• Irkutsk;
• Novosibirsk;
• Khabarovsk;
• Krasnoyarsk ("Emelyanovo" and "Cheremshanka");
• Yakutsk.

Bratsk Airport: how to arrive

The only possible transport for a trip to the airport is a taxi. You can also use your personal car. Near the hotel there is parking.

Back in 1992, public transport stopped plying between the city and the airport complex. After this, attempts were made to organize a separate commercial route, but it was closed due to a small passenger traffic. Also, the reason for the small volumes of traffic lies in the lack of information about the availability of this route by city residents and transport agencies. In this regard, the city administration felt that the route was unclaimed. Even in the near future transport communication can not be restored.

Bratsk Airport: prospects

To date, the annual volume of passenger traffic is just over 100,000 people. The specialists of the enterprise consider this volume to be peak, since it does not seem possible to increase it.

Now the flights are made on six domestic routes. At the end of 2014, international flights with Turkey and Thailand were closed.

In the near future, it is planned to create the largest cargo transportation complex from the current airport, since this approach is the most promising, according to experts. The volume of cargo transportation is planned to increase sixfold.

The creation of a logistics center was planned back in 2008. But only now this issue was taken up closely. It is assumed that the transport hub will serve cargo transportation to the northern regions of Russia, as well as some Asian countries.

Bratsk is the airport, the second largest in the Irkutsk region. It is capable of receiving almost all modern types of aircraft and helicopters. International flights have not been carried out for almost two years now. But soon it will become one of the largest logistics air hubs in Siberia. Reconstruction and purchase of new equipment are provided at the expense of funds allocated from the state budget.