Commercial operations begin at Bhogapuram’s new international airport with Indigo flight

Commercial flight operations began at the newly built Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, with IndiGo operating the first flight from Hyderabad, marking the start of a new aviation hub for North Andhra.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the airport’s first commercial services and handed boarding passes to passengers. An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru also arrived at the airport later in the day.

“The commencement of commercial flight operations at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is a matter of great happiness and pride,” Naidu said, describing the development as the beginning of a new chapter for North Andhra and a potential catalyst for new opportunities in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport on August 1. The airport has been developed with infrastructure and facilities aimed at supporting greater air connectivity to the region and facilitating future economic activity.

Airport expected to boost investment, tourism and jobs

Naidu said the airport would provide fresh impetus to North Andhra, which has historically been regarded as a relatively backward region, by improving connectivity and creating conditions conducive to investment, tourism, employment and broader economic activity.

He said the airport was designed not only as a piece of transport infrastructure but also as a reflection of the region’s history, heritage and culture.

The minister also acknowledged the contribution of farmers who gave up their land for the project and the role of GMR in developing the airport. He said their cooperation was important in creating infrastructure that could support the region’s long-term development.

Connectivity to the airport is also being strengthened, Naidu said. Several roads have been widened and seven major road projects have been taken up, including the Sontyam road connecting the airport from the Simhachalam side.

A Beach Corridor has also been sanctioned and work is expected to begin soon. The corridor will provide an additional coastal route between Visakhapatnam and the new airport.

Visakhapatnam airport shifts to general aviation

The launch of commercial services at Bhogapuram comes shortly after scheduled commercial operations at Visakhapatnam Airport ended on August 16. The last scheduled flight, IndiGo 6E 2018 to Delhi, departed at 10:45 pm.

Naidu acknowledged the sentiment among Visakhapatnam residents over the shift in scheduled commercial operations, while noting that the airport’s infrastructure would continue to be used for general aviation, including private flights.

He also said some initial inconvenience could be expected as passengers and airlines adjust to the new airport. However, he expressed confidence that the facilities and infrastructure at Bhogapuram would eventually make people proud of the region’s new aviation gateway.