Visakhapatnam Airport News: Bhogapuram Takes Over VTZ From August 17; Old Airport Stops Passenger Flights

Visakhapatnam has entered a new phase in its aviation journey as scheduled commercial flights moved from the city's old airport to the newly opened Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on August 17, 2026. The transition took effect at 12.01 am, bringing an end to decades of scheduled passenger operations at the Visakhapatnam Civil Enclave and placing Bhogapuram at the centre of air connectivity for North Andhra.

No More Commercial Flights From Visakhapatnam Airport! Bhogapuram Takes Over VTZ

The last scheduled commercial flight to leave the old airport was IndiGo flight 6E 2018 bound for Delhi, which departed at 10.45 pm on August 16. From midnight onwards, passengers travelling on scheduled domestic and international services have had to use the new Bhogapuram airport. Importantly, the VTZ airport code has also shifted to the new facility.

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport Begins Commercial Operations

The new airport welcomed its first scheduled commercial service on August 17, with an IndiGo flight arriving from Hyderabad. An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru followed, formally beginning a new chapter in Visakhapatnam's commercial aviation network.

The transition came just over two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport on August 1. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu marked the start of commercial operations by handing boarding passes to passengers and flagging off the first commercial service.

Bhogapuram Airport Opens New Doors for North Andhra: Flights, Jobs, Investment and Tourism

A dedicated civilian airport at Bhogapuram provides room for the region's aviation network to expand over time. Greater passenger-handling capacity, additional flight connections and improved air cargo opportunities could strengthen links between North Andhra and other major Indian cities as well as international destinations.

Old Visakhapatnam Airport Not Shutting Down!

The relocation does not mean that the old airport site has completely stopped functioning. While scheduled commercial passenger operations have moved to Bhogapuram, the existing facility continues to have a role in general aviation, including private aircraft operations.

The old airport's long association with aviation makes the transition particularly significant. Its history dates back to the Second World War, when the site was developed as an airstrip for the Royal Air Force.

Civil aviation eventually began there in 1962, while regular commercial services resumed in 1976. The airport subsequently developed a strong naval connection, with Indian Navy aviation operations beginning in 1972.

The naval station was formally commissioned as INS Dega in 1991. For decades, civil and military aviation therefore operated alongside each other, making the Visakhapatnam airport an unusual and strategically important aviation facility.

VTZ Airport Code Moves to Bhogapuram

One of the most important changes for passengers is that the VTZ code has moved with the scheduled commercial operation. Travellers may therefore continue to see VTZ on tickets and booking platforms, but the airport associated with that code is now Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram.

Passengers who previously travelled through the old Visakhapatnam airport should therefore avoid relying solely on familiar travel routines. The airport's physical location has changed, and road travel arrangements need to be planned accordingly.

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