Now Reading: Modi opens Vizag airport, targets Southeast Asian travellers
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Modi opens Vizag airport, targets Southeast Asian travellers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated India's newest international airport in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The airport is expected to boost tourism and business ties with Southeast Asian countries.
Located on the coast, Vizag is being positioned as a gateway for travellers from Southeast Asia, a region with growing air connectivity to southern India. The airport upgrade includes expanded terminal capacity and modern facilities.
The move aligns with the government's push to enhance regional connectivity and economic links with Southeast Asia, a key partner under India's Act East policy. No details on flight routes or airlines were announced at the event.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Visakhapatnam, a major industrial and naval hub, has long sought direct international flights to Southeast Asian cities such as Singapore and Bangkok. The new airport status could reduce travel time for the region's IT and pharma professionals, who often transit through Chennai or Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh, which lost its special-category status in 2014, has been pushing for infrastructure projects to attract investment. Whether airlines add routes will depend on demand from the large Telugu diaspora in Southeast Asia and the US. The next concrete signal to watch is which carriers announce Vizag flights in the coming months.
Source: asia.nikkei.com
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