Marking a momentous leap in aviation infrastructure along India’s eastern seaboard, the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram officially commenced commercial flight operations on Monday.
The greenfield gateway, developed and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, ushered in a new era of connectivity, trade, and economic growth for North Andhra Pradesh.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu tweeted on ‘X’: “The airport’s launch in Bhogapuram opens a historic era of connectivity for Andhra Pradesh, empowering youth aspirations and unlocking vast economic opportunities. Congratulations to all.”
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu marked the historic milestone by personally handing over boarding passes and commemorative mementoes to passengers on inaugural flights. The opening day buzzed with a robust schedule of 52 air traffic movements, connecting the region to key domestic hubs and international destinations across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu hands boarding passes to passengers.
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BY ARRANGEMENT
A Day of Firsts
The inaugural day aircrafts operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Scoot, and IndiaOne received the traditional water cannon salutes.
IndiGo flight 6E 6408 from Hyderabad marked the very first arrival, and later returned as flight 6E 9051.
IndiGo also commenced international operations with the arrival of flight 6E 1443 from Abu Dhabi and departing as flight 6E 1444.
Low-cost airline Scoot’s flight TR 784 from Singapore also landed at the new airport and returned as flight TR 785.
GMR Vision
The new airport is engineered to serve as a major logistics and aviation powerhouse. The 2,200 acre facility features a massive 3,800 metre Code 4E runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 and Older Boeing 747 models. The facility has an initial passenger handling capacity of 6 million passengers per annum, with future expansion planned to accomodate more than 40 million.
Kanwarbir Singh Kalra, Chief Executive Officer of GVIAL said: “The launch represents years of meticulous planning and engineering excellence. This airport will serve as a powerful catalyst for trade, tourism, investment, and employment, while strengthening regional and global connectivity and supporting the long-term economic growth of North Andhra Pradesh.”
Teething Realities
Transitioning from the Visakhapatnam city-centred military run INS Dega, the first passengers at the new Bhogapuram airport experienced the grandeur of the new terminal, but also faced challenges associated with the long commute.
Vikram Penmetsa, a chartered accountant from Siripuram, speaking to The Hindu said: “My pre-dawn road journey required me to navigate arterial bottlenecks at Anandapuram Junction. However, once inside the airport the experience is seamless and makes up for the long drive.” In just 15 to 20 minutes, we cleared check-in and security, before stepping into the massive domestic waiting hall. The interiors are awesome, and match international standards. There is a lot of difference between the old Visakhapatnam Airport and this new facility, he added.
Aero Express
To bridge the gap between the city and the suburban facility, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has launched dedicated Aero Express air-conditioned electric bus services. An initial fleet of 14 e-buses were deployed on the first day under the guidance of RTC Regional Manager B. Appalanaidu.
These e-buses operate across two primary routes daily from 4.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. at a frequency of every half-hour.
The first route connects Gajuwaka with the airport via NAD, Gurudwara, Zoo Park, Marikivalasa, Anandapuram, and Tagarapuvalasa.
The second route: Passes through Scindia, the city railway station, Dwaraka Bus Station, Siripuram, ISKCON temple, and IT Hills before joining the highway corridor.
The bus fares vary according to distance, starting from ₹400 for boarding points at Old Gajuwaka, Scindia, and Kancharapalem down to ₹50 from the Airport Junction, ensuring affordable, multi-modal access for all passengers.
With flights now active and public transit networks in place, the ‘Gateway of the East’ stands poised to redefine the economic and travel landscape of Andhra Pradesh.
Published – August 17, 2026 08:39 pm IST
