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

IndiGo has brought in discounts of up to 20 per cent on base fares for non-stop domestic and international flights through its ‘Happy Independence Day Sale’.

The offer applies to bookings made between August 13 and August 16, 2026, with discounted fares valid for travel between August 16 and October 31, 2026.

To claim the offer, customers need to book at least three days ahead and use the promo code INDIGO80.

The sale is available on IndiGo’s website, mobile app, its AI assistant 6Eskai, and select travel partner platforms.

IndiGo is also offering up to 20 per cent off on select ancillary services including 6E Eats, Fast Forward and 6E Seats, along with Fare Hold starting at Rs 20 and IndiGo UpFront upgrades from Rs 999.

IndiGo BluChip members can earn up to 20,000 BluChips on IndiGoStretch bookings made through the airline’s direct channels for travel between August 24 and September 30, 2026.

The travel window for discounted fares stretches across nearly ten weeks, giving customers flexibility to plan trips for the upcoming festive season while locking in lower prices well in advance.

IndiGo remains India’s largest airline by domestic market share, and periodically runs limited-time fare promotions tied to national holidays to encourage advance bookings.

IndiGo said customers must book at least three days before travel to avail the discount, and should use the promo code INDIGO80 at checkout.

The offer can be accessed through IndiGo’s website, mobile app, its AI-powered assistant 6Eskai, and select travel partner platforms.

Beyond airfares, IndiGo is offering up to 20 per cent off on select ancillary products including 6E Eats, Fast Forward and 6E Seats, along with Fare Hold starting at Rs 20 and IndiGo UpFront upgrades from Rs 999.

IndiGo BluChip loyalty members can earn up to 20,000 BluChips on IndiGoStretch bookings made through the airline’s direct channels for travel between August 24 and September 30, 2026.

Photo by Ravi Dwivedi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Alliance Air began direct flights between Bhopal and Patna from Monday, August 10, 2026.

The service runs three days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, on a 70-seater aircraft.

The introductory one-way fare from Patna to Bhopal has been set at Rs 4,622, while the Bhopal-to-Patna fare starts at Rs 4,483.

The new route connects Madhya Pradesh’s capital directly with Bihar’s capital, a link expected to benefit Bihar-origin residents in Madhya Pradesh, as well as traders and business travellers.

The Bhopal-Patna launch forms part of a wider Alliance Air expansion, which has also introduced Bhopal-Rewa, Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata services this week.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav flagged off the inaugural flights on the new routes to expand regional air connectivity.

The route expansion is part of the government’s broader regional connectivity push, which has historically supported smaller carriers in launching thinner routes between tier-2 and tier-3 cities that larger airlines have found commercially unviable.

Passengers travelling on the new Bhopal-Patna and related routes can book tickets through Alliance Air’s official channels as well as major travel booking platforms.

Regional carriers like Alliance Air typically rely on lower operating costs and smaller aircraft to make thin routes financially viable, a model that has enabled steady growth in India’s regional air network over the past several years.

The Bhopal-Patna service is one of four new Alliance Air routes launched this week connecting Madhya Pradesh with other states, alongside Bhopal-Rewa, Rewa-Kolkata and Jabalpur-Kolkata.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav flagged off the inaugural flights on the new routes, part of a broader push to expand regional air connectivity across central and eastern India.

Officials said the direct Bhopal-Patna link is expected to benefit the large population from Bihar residing in Madhya Pradesh, as well as traders, businesspeople and other travellers moving between the two states.

Photo by Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0