Bhogapuram airport in AP begins commercial operations on Aug 17

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh began commercial operations on August 17, with the first IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off services at the airport, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. The airport will operate under IATA code VTZ, transferred from the existing Visakhapatnam Airport.

Scheduled commercial flights at Visakhapatnam Airport ceased on August 16 after the last IndiGo flight departed for Delhi. The existing airport will continue to be used for defence, police, VIP movements, and unscheduled special flights. The new airport, built about 50 km from Visakhapatnam, is expected to boost investment, tourism, and employment in North Andhra, according to the union minister. Road connectivity projects and a coastal corridor between the cities are underway.