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Visakhapatnam International Airport to stop civilian operations from July 8

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Visakhapatnam International Airport will cease civilian operations on July 8, shifting all commercial flights to the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.
  • The new airport, located in Bhogapuram, is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in early July.
  • Passengers are advised to verify their flight details as airlines and travel associations have alerted them about the transition, with new user development fees approved.

The Visakhapatnam International Airport will halt civilian operations on July 8, marking the end of an era for the city's aviation hub. All commercial flight services will transition to the newly constructed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, situated in Bhogapuram, approximately 50 km from Visakhapatnam.

The existing Visakhapatnam airport, currently under the control of the Indian Navy, will no longer handle commercial flights. The greenfield Bhogapuram airport, developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited under a public-private partnership, is set to become the sole commercial gateway for the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the new facility in the first week of July, with operations commencing on July 8.

The existing airport at Visakhapatnam, which is under the control of the Indian Navy, will cease to handle civilian flights, with the greenfield Bhogapuram airport becoming the region’s sole commercial aviation gateway.

— Senior Visakhapatnam district administration officialExplaining the transition of civilian flight operations from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram.

Designed to accommodate six million passengers annually in its initial phase, the new airport has undergone successful trial flights and is testing passenger facilities. Airlines like Singapore's Scoot have already notified passengers of the change. The Tours and Travel Agents Association of Andhra Pradesh has urged travelers with tickets for travel on or after July 8 to confirm their departure and arrival airport details.

In preparation for the shift, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has approved an interim tariff structure. Departing domestic passengers will face a user development fee (UDF) of ₹835, with arriving passengers paying ₹355. International travelers will pay higher UDFs. Landing charges have also been set for both domestic and international carriers. However, road connectivity from Visakhapatnam to the new airport remains a significant concern for passengers.

Trial and validation flights were successfully completed on January 4, and airport authorities have already begun testing passenger facilities, including check-in counters, baggage handling and security systems, ahead of commissioning.

— OfficialDetailing the readiness of the new airport for operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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