It is now official. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday announced that all scheduled commercial flight operations from the existing Visakhapatnam International Airport will cease at 12:01 am on August 17.
From midnight on August 17, all existing flight operations will shift to the newly constructed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.
The decision marks the transfer of commercial aviation services from the civil enclave at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam, which has served as the city’s airport for nearly three decades.
According to the ministry, scheduled commercial flights will operate exclusively from the new Bhogapuram airport after the transition. However, exceptions will be made during national emergencies.
The existing airport at INS Dega will continue to handle Indian Air Force operations, flights of the armed forces and police, aircraft carrying government dignitaries and VIPs, leased aircraft and non-scheduled commercial aviation activities.
The Centre also announced that the international airport code “VTZ”, currently assigned to Visakhapatnam Airport, will officially be transferred to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport from 12:01 am on August 17.
Separately, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a gazette notification formally naming the greenfield airport, developed by GMR under the Public-Private Partnership model, as Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, had resolved on September 18, 2024, to name the airport after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. The Centre has now formally approved and notified the decision.
