Visakhapatnam airport (VTZ) officially ended its commercial operations on August 15, 2026, as all scheduled flights were shifted to the newly inaugurated Bhogapuram International Airport. The transition, which had been planned for months, marks the end of an era for the city's original airport, which had served as a key gateway to Andhra Pradesh's coastal region.
The Bhogapuram airport, located about 40 kilometers from Visakhapatnam, began full commercial operations on August 16, 2026, with airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet operating flights to major domestic destinations. The new airport features a modern terminal with a capacity to handle 6 million passengers annually, and is expected to reduce congestion and improve connectivity.
Meanwhile, INS Dega, the Indian Navy's air station in Visakhapatnam, continues to operate for naval and military purposes. It has a history dating back to the 1940s and has been used for both civil and military aviation. With the closure of the civil airport, INS Dega will now exclusively serve naval operations, including maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare missions.
The shift to Bhogapuram is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade in the region, aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth. However, some travelers have expressed concerns about the increased travel time to the new airport, which is located further from the city center.
