Flights to and from Visakhapatnam will begin operating from the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram starting August 17, 2026. Developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the airport has been designed with long-term scalability and operational efficiency in mind, according to the company overseeing the project.
From August 17, travellers will use the new integrated terminal, which will officially operate under the IATA code VTZ, authorities confirmed. Kondapalli Srinivas indicated that international flights from Bhogapuram to foreign destinations would begin soon after the airport’s launch.
The integrated passenger terminal spans 77,342 square metres, bringing together check-in, security screening, immigration, baggage handling and boarding under a single facility. To ensure smoother passenger flow, the terminal features DigiYatra integration, e-gates and self-service kiosks, alongside advanced baggage handling systems. Architecturally, the terminal draws inspiration from the region’s locally found flying fish, reflecting local heritage in its design.
The airport will open with an initial capacity of six million passengers annually, with scope to scale up to over 40 million passengers in the future. Its airside infrastructure includes a 3,800-metre Code 4E runway, a parallel taxiway, rapid-exit taxiways, and 18 aircraft stands designed to accommodate heavy commercial traffic as well as future fleet expansion.
Day-to-day operations at the airport will be supported by extensive digital integration, including smart airport systems, AI-enabled passenger services, and the Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC), which will provide real-time operational visibility and predictive analytics to support decision-making.
GMR stated that the transition to the new airport is aimed at spurring broader regional growth and strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s position as a key aviation and connectivity hub in the region.