IrAero’s Far-East Gambit: Weekly Khabarovsk–Ningbo–Kalibo Link Brings Boracay Within One Stop
ID 133677005 © Denis Kabelev | Dreamstime.com
Russia’s IrAero has filed a new trans-Asia leisure route for winter 2025: a weekly Khabarovsk (KHV)–Ningbo (NGB)–Kalibo (KLO) service using the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100), beginning October 28, 2025. Timings are set up for same-day, one-stop connectivity from Russia’s Far East to the gateway of Boracay, the Philippines’ headline beach destination.
Schedule & aircraft
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Start date: October 28, 2025
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Frequency: 1x weekly (day 2)
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Equipment: Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SU9)
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Flight numbers and times (local):
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IO2177 KHV 06:40 – 08:40 NGB 09:35 – 13:15 KLO
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IO2178 KLO 14:40 – 18:40 NGB 19:40 – 01:30+1 KHV
These times and routings are as filed by the airline. As always, carriers may adjust schedules closer to launch.
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Why Kalibo matters
Kalibo (KLO) is one of two primary gateways to Boracay, the powder-white-sand island that anchors Philippine leisure demand; from Kalibo, travelers typically continue by road and boat to Boracay’s resorts. (Caticlan/MPH is the closer airport, while Kalibo supports larger aircraft and longer-haul operations.)
Network context: a targeted leisure play
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Origin market: Khabarovsk is a key population and commercial center of Russia’s Far East, with limited long-haul leisure options without backtracking via Moscow. A one-stop to the Philippines taps pent-up demand for sun-and-sea holidays from the region.
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Stop via China: The intermediate call in Ningbo (NGB) provides a fuel/technical stop and operational flexibility on the SSJ100. IrAero’s filing lists the service as KHV–NGB–KLO; no local sales or fifth-freedom rights were announced in the filing.
Competitive landscape
While Russian leisure flying to Southeast Asia has historically focused on Thailand and Vietnam, nonstop or one-stop links to the Philippines are rarer from the Far East. IrAero’s weekly pattern trades frequency for simplicity, using an aircraft sized to test demand without the risk profile of larger narrowbodies.
Practical bits for travelers
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Seasonality: The launch in late October aligns with the northeast monsoon “Amihan” season—typically Boracay’s drier, calmer-seas peak for beachgoers.
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Baggage and onboard: The SSJ100 is a regional jet; expect a leaner cabin than mainline narrowbodies. Check IrAero’s specific baggage allowances and buy-on-board policies when sales open.
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Entry formalities: Visa/entry rules for China (transit via NGB) and the Philippines can change; verify transit visa requirements for Ningbo and entry/visa-free eligibility for the Philippines prior to booking.
Bottom line
IrAero’s once-weekly Khabarovsk–Ningbo–Kalibo service gives Russia’s Far East a simple, one-stop path to Boracay just as peak beach season begins. It’s a small but savvy network bet: right-sized aircraft, leisure-friendly timings, and a destination with global name recognition. If loads materialize, expect frequencies (or additional Philippine gateways) to be the next lever IrAero pulls.
