Commercial flight operations begin at new Vizag airport
Commercial flight operations commenced at the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram here on Monday, August 17, with the first flight operated by IndiGo arriving from Hyderabad.
The operations commenced a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the modern facility equipped with a number of features.
The airport, developed and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), is expected to strengthen Andhra Pradesh's position as the "Gateway of the East" for domestic and international travel.
"The commencement of commercial operations marks a transformational moment for north Andhra Pradesh and the beginning of a new chapter in the region's connectivity journey," GVIAL CEO Kanwarbir Singh Kalra in a press release.
He said the airport would expand connectivity and serve as a catalyst for trade, tourism, investment and employment while strengthening regional and global connectivity and supporting the long-term economic growth of the state's northern region.
The first arrivals of Air India Express, Air India, IndiGo, Scoot and India One received ceremonial water-cannon salutes, while 52 air traffic movements were planned on the first day.
The first flight of the day was IndiGo 6E 6408 from Hyderabad, followed by IndiGo 6E 9051 from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad, marking the commencement of commercial operations.
The airport also recorded its first Indian carrier international service with IndiGo 6E 1443 arriving from Abu Dhabi, followed by 6E 1444 departing for Abu Dhabi.
Scoot's TR 784 from Singapore marked the first international carrier flight to arrive at the airport, followed by TR 785 to Singapore, connecting the state with Southeast Asia.
The airport has an initial annual passenger capacity of six million and has been master-planned for phased expansion to handle more than 40 million passengers annually.
Its 3,800-metre Code 4E runway can handle wide-body aircraft and is expected to support future domestic and international expansion, strengthen air cargo capabilities and reinforce Andhra Pradesh's emergence as an aviation and logistics hub on India's eastern seaboard.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu hailed the commencement of operations at the airport as a historic new chapter for the state.
"As flights take off from Bhogapuram, so too will the aspirations, dreams and futures of our young people, opening up new opportunities for them," he said a post on X.
Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the first commercial flight services at the airport and handed over boarding passes to passengers, marking the beginning of operations at the new international airport.
"The commencement of commercial flight operations at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is a matter of great happiness and pride. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for north Andhra and will open new opportunities for the region," he said.
PM Modi inaugurated the airport, billed as one catering to the development needs of north Andhra, on August 1.
The first IndiGo flight arrived from Hyderabad, followed by an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru. The inaugural flight from Hyderabad made its return journey to the Telangana capital, marking the first departure from here.
According to the union minister, passengers who arrived at the airport praised its infrastructure, architecture and facilities.
The airport has been built not merely as a building but as a symbol of our history, heritage and culture, he said.
He thanked farmers who gave up their land for the project and GMR authorities for their role in developing the airport, saying their cooperation and commitment helped create the infrastructure for the development of north Andhra.
He said the airport was expected to give a new impetus to north Andhra, which had earlier been described as a backward region, and create an environment conducive to investments, tourism, employment and economic activity.
Referring to Visakhapatnam Airport which till recently served the public, he said he understood the emotions of people who were saddened by the closure of its scheduled commercial operations.
He said the infrastructure at Visakhapatnam Airport was now being utilised under general aviation for private flights.
Infrastructure development and connectivity to Bhogapuram airport were also being strengthened, with several roads widened and seven major road projects taken up, including the Sontyam road connecting from the Simhachalam side.
Ram Mohan Naidu said the Beach Corridor had also been sanctioned and works would begin soon, providing another route between Visakhapatnam and the airport along the coast.
The central minister said some initial inconvenience was expected at the new airport, but expressed confidence that people would feel proud after visiting and experiencing its facilities.
Scheduled commercial operations at Visakhapatnam Airport ceased on August 16, following the departure of the last flight, IndiGo 6E 2018 to Delhi, at 10:45 pm.
The Andhra Pradesh government views the Rs 5,700 crore Bhogapuram Airport, developed by GMR Group, not merely as an infrastructure project, but as a transformational asset for the entire north Andhra region.
It was conceived as a catalyst for industrial growth, employment generation, exports, skill development and research.
The airport is equipped with advanced technologies such as AI, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Airside 4.0 technologies, Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC) and biometric passenger processing, among
others.
Its architectural design draws inspiration from the cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh, with the terminal's roof profile reflecting the traditional Chuttilu cottages and the landscapes of the Araku Valley, while its flowing form symbolises the graceful movement of a flying fish.
