🛫 Why Did Visakhapatnam Airport Stop Commercial Flights?

The airport has not simply been shut because of a technical problem or lack of demand.

The main reason is the planned transfer of scheduled commercial aviation to the new greenfield airport at Bhogapuram. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had notified that the civil enclave at the existing Visakhapatnam Airport would remain closed to scheduled commercial operations for 30 years from August 17, 2026.

The decision was linked to the original site-clearance decision for the Bhogapuram airport project.

The move is similar to earlier transitions in cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where scheduled commercial operations shifted from older airports to newly developed facilities.

🏗️ Meet Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport

The new airport is located at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, roughly 50 km from central Visakhapatnam.

Named after revolutionary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, the airport has been developed as a modern international aviation gateway for the region.

Commercial operations began on August 17, following its inauguration earlier in August.

The new facility is designed to provide greater capacity and modern passenger infrastructure as air traffic in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh grows.

📍 What Happens to Airport Code VTZ?

Interestingly, travellers don’t have to learn a completely new airport code.

The IATA code VTZ has been transferred from the old Visakhapatnam Airport to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport from August 17.

This means flights serving the Visakhapatnam market continue to use VTZ, even though passengers now travel through the new Bhogapuram facility.

🧳 What Does This Mean for Passengers?

This is the most important change for travellers:

Before August 17

📍 Visakhapatnam Airport / INS Dega

From August 17

📍 Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram

Passengers with flights booked for Visakhapatnam should therefore check their airline itinerary carefully and plan their journey to the new airport, rather than heading to the old civil terminal.

Airlines including IndiGo and Air India have shifted their Visakhapatnam services to Bhogapuram.

🚗 How Far Is the New Airport From Visakhapatnam?

The Bhogapuram airport is approximately 50 km from Visakhapatnam city centre.

That means travellers should allow additional road-travel time when planning airport transfers, particularly for early-morning departures, evening flights and journeys during peak traffic.

Scoot, for example, has advised passengers using its Visakhapatnam services to arrive at least 120 minutes before departure and has confirmed that its operations have moved to the new airport.

✈️ What Happens to the Old Visakhapatnam Airport?

The end of scheduled commercial flights does not mean every type of aviation activity disappears from the site.

According to the government’s notification, non-scheduled commercial operations may continue from the Visakhapatnam civil enclave.

Certain operations connected with the armed forces, police, authorised agencies, emergencies and specified government flights are also covered by exemptions.

The Indian Navy has also played an important role in facilitating civil aviation operations at the existing airport, and coordination will remain relevant for permitted activities.

🌏 Why Is Bhogapuram Airport Important?

The new airport is expected to become a major aviation gateway for Visakhapatnam and northern coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Its larger infrastructure is intended to accommodate future passenger growth and strengthen connectivity with destinations across India and international markets.

The airport’s opening also creates opportunities for:

• ✈️ Better regional air connectivity
• 🌍 More international routes
• 📈 Future passenger growth
• 💼 Increased business travel
• 🧳 Greater tourism potential
• 🚚 Improved cargo connectivity
• 🏗️ Long-term regional infrastructure development

🧭 Travel Tips for Flyers

If you’re flying to Visakhapatnam after August 17, keep these points in mind:

1. Check your ticket carefully
Look for VTZ and confirm the airport location shown by your airline.

2. Don’t automatically head to the old airport
Scheduled commercial services have shifted to Bhogapuram.

3. Plan extra road-transfer time
The new airport is outside Visakhapatnam city.

4. Check airline advisories
Airlines are updating passengers regarding the airport transition.

5. Arrive early
Allow sufficient time for check-in, baggage and security procedures.

6. Recheck transport arrangements
Cab and airport-transfer plans may need to be adjusted because of the new location.

🕰️ A Major Change After Decades of Service

The old Visakhapatnam airport had served passengers, businesses and tourists for decades and had undergone several improvements, including terminal expansion, additional aircraft parking, passenger facilities, DigiYatra services and accessibility initiatives. Its scheduled commercial chapter ended with the final flight departing on August 16.

The transition therefore marks more than an airport relocation—it represents a significant shift in the aviation infrastructure of Andhra Pradesh.

Visakhapatnam’s VTZ flights now operate through Bhogapuram Airport.

The airport code VTZ remains the same, but the physical location for scheduled commercial flights has changed.

As Bhogapuram begins operations, it is expected to become a key gateway for Visakhapatnam, northern coastal Andhra Pradesh and the region’s growing tourism and business sectors.