The all-new Alluri Sitarama Raju Airport, also known as Bhogapuram Airport, has commenced operations from August 17, 00:01 Hours. Following its opening, Air India has announced that it will move all of its flight operations from the Visakhapatnam International Airport to the new one located in the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. The erstwhile commercial airport in Vizag has ceased all commercial flight operations, owing to which this move had to be made. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this move.
Air India Moves Flight Operations To New Bhogapuram Airport
In a press release that was recently shared by Air India, the flag-carrier of the country announced that all of its flight operations will now move to the new Bhogapuram Airport. Air India was offering a total of 14 weekly flights between Vizag and Delhi.
It will continue to offer the same number of flights, but now between Bhogapuram and Delhi. The move came after the INS Dega in Vizag ceased all commercial flight operations on August 16, 2026, at 23:59 hours. The new airport terminal utilizes the same airport code (VTZ) and is spread across 77,342 sq. m.
It has a total of 22 check-in counters, 18 self-baggage drop units, advanced screening systems, modern baggage handling facilities, and a total of seven aerobridges.
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Why Did The Vizag Airport Cease Commercial Operations?
The old Vizag airport shared the space with a naval base. Owing to this, both military and civil aviation operations were restricted. Round-the-clock connectivity could not be given to commercial flights as the slots were distributed between military and civil flights.
What is more, as per ministry rules, the airport must return to full military operation usage for the next 30 years. The new airport not only solves this problem, but it also provides more modern amenities. Given these constraints and considerations, the move was made.
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Summing Up
The new airport hopes to provide travelers to and from Andhra Pradesh the same seamless air connectivity that the Vizag Airport was offering up until now. The dedicated new civil airport will ensure that military operations can continue uninterrupted while also providing mobility to civilians.
