At 1:40 AM on March 8th, an A320 passenger plane landed smoothly at Sanya Phoenix International Airport, marking the official launch of a new international passenger route linking Irkutsk, Russia, and Sanya, China. This is also the first international passenger route to open at Sanya Phoenix International Airport, located on the southern coast of tropical Hainan Island, in 2026.

The new route, operated on an A320 aircraft, offers flights every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, for a combined total of three flights per week. Inbound flight number SU866 is scheduled to depart Irkutsk at 20:55 on Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Sanya at 02:20 the following day. Departing flight number SU867 is scheduled to depart Sanya at 03:20 every Friday and Sunday, arriving in Irkutsk at 09:10 on the same day, as well as at 04:25 every Tuesday, arriving in Irkutsk at 10:15 on the same day. All times are listed according to China Standard Time. Travelers should check the latest flight schedule for updated flight details.

Irkutsk, located in the heart of Eastern Siberia, Russia, is not only a vital transportation hub but also a world-renowned cultural and vacation destination, boasting world-class natural scenery and a huge potential market. The opening of this direct flight route meets the market demand for Russian travelers seeking winter getaways, leisure, and wellness in Hainan, extending the winter tourism boom in Hainan. The new route also provides a convenient option for local Hainan residents and domestic transit passengers to experience the unique beauty of Russia.

Thanks to the continued deepening of Sino-Russian aviation cooperation, Sanya’s Phoenix International Airport now offers air routes reaching eleven Russian cities, with a combined total of 26 flights per week.