Air India begins operating from new Bhogapuram airport today

Air India began operating all its Visakhapatnam flights from the newly opened Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on Monday, August 17, 2026.

The airline confirmed that flights previously based at Visakhapatnam International Airport will now use the new facility, which keeps the same airport code, VTZ.

The new airport is located roughly 50 km from the earlier Visakhapatnam Airport, and Air India will continue its 14 weekly flights between Bhogapuram and Delhi.

Hyderabad and Bengaluru routes will each operate twice daily, along with Vijayawada services, under the airline’s revised schedule for the new hub.

The terminal covers 77,342 square metres and features 22 traditional check-in counters, 18 Self Baggage Drop units, advanced screening systems and seven aerobridges.

Passengers have been asked to check their bookings and allow extra travel time to reach the new airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, 2026.

The Bhogapuram airport was designed to handle 6 million passengers annually in its first phase, with a master plan allowing for capacity to expand to 40 million passengers per year in future phases.

The airport is being developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Group, and is located off National Highway 16.

The new terminal spans 77,342 square metres and features 22 traditional check-in counters, 18 Self Baggage Drop units, advanced security screening systems, and seven aerobridges.

Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, 2026, ahead of today’s start of full commercial operations.

Air India said Hyderabad-Bhogapuram and Bengaluru-Bhogapuram routes will each operate twice daily under the new schedule, in addition to the 14 weekly Delhi flights.

Passengers with existing bookings to or from Visakhapatnam have been advised to check their travel details and allow extra time to reach the new airport, located roughly 50 km from the previous facility.

Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India, Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India