🔥 Trending Vizag Airport Transition: What You Need to Know

Visakhapatnam Airport, often referred to as Vizag Airport, was a civil enclave at INS Dega, a naval air station in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India ⁵⁸. It was the largest airport in Andhra Pradesh by passenger volume for a significant period ⁴.

Transition to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport (Bhogapuram)

As of August 17, 2026, scheduled commercial flight operations at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) have ceased ⁵⁶⁹¹⁰. All civil flight operations have been transferred to the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram ⁵⁶⁹¹⁰.

Reasons for the Transition

The primary reason for the development and transition to a new airport was the limitations imposed by operating out of a naval air station ⁸. The Indian Navy, which managed INS Dega, placed a ceiling on civil movements, meaning airlines had to operate within specific slots allotted by the Navy ⁸. This restriction hindered the growth and expansion of civil aviation services in the region ⁸. The new greenfield airport at Bhogapuram was pursued to overcome these limitations and provide greater scalability and modern facilities ⁷⁸.

New Airport Details

The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram commenced operations on August 17, 2026, with 31 flights scheduled on its first day ⁶¹⁰. This new airport aims to boost regional growth and offers a 77,342-square-meter integrated passenger terminal ⁷¹⁰. It features modern facilities for check-in, security screening, immigration, baggage handling, and boarding ⁷. The new airport is designed to retain and enhance the connectivity previously offered by Visakhapatnam Airport, while also pushing for more flights and global connections ⁷.

Historical Context of Visakhapatnam Airport

Visakhapatnam Airport's airfield at Buchirajapalem was originally established in 1941 by the Royal Air Force ⁸. On April 1, 1942, the Indian Air Force's No. 104 Gene unit began operations there ⁸. The airport has seen periods of temporary closure, such as a week-long shutdown in October 2014 ¹. While commercial operations have moved, INS Dega continues to function as a naval air station ⁵⁸.