Visakhapatnam airport closes to civil flights; Bhogapuram airport takes over
The city’s civil enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport ended scheduled operations on August 16, 2026, as Bhogapuram's Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport came into service. Non-scheduled civil flights and naval flying continue at INS Dega, with the Navy now the sole authority over Visakhapatnam ai
Key takeaways
- Visakhapatnam’s civil enclave ended scheduled operations on August 16, 2026.
- Bhogapuram’s Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport began service at 12:01 a.m. on August 17, 2026, absorbing VTZ.
- INS Dega will continue non-scheduled civil flights and all naval aviation, with the Navy controlling Visakhapatnam airspace since July 9, 2026.
What Happened
The Visakhapatnam airport concluded its last day of commercial operations on Sunday, August 16, 2026. IndiGo operated the final scheduled flight, a 10.45 p.m. departure to New Delhi (flight 6E 2018). At 12.01 a.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026, scheduled civil operations at the airfield ended as the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram formally entered service following two gazette notifications issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. One notification brought Bhogapuram into operation; the other terminated scheduled civil operations at INS Dega for 30 years, with allowances for armed forces, national emergencies, and flights carrying dignitaries. The IATA code VTZ was reassigned to Bhogapuram at the same moment. Non-scheduled civil flights and all naval flying continue at INS Dega, and since July 9, the Navy has controlled Visakhapatnam airspace.
In the wake of the change, the Airports Authority of India expressed thanks to the Indian Navy for hosting civil operations at INS Dega, along with acknowledgments to CISF, BCAS, DGCA, Customs, Immigration, airlines, and ground handlers. The 30-year limit on civil movements at the naval airfield traces back to January 2016, when the Centre granted site clearance for Bhogapuram. The airfield at Buchirajapalem, set up in 1941 by the Royal Air Force, has historical significance tied to wartime operations and local milestones.
Passengers on Sunday evening witnessed the transition as the last commercial flights departed the Visakhapatnam airport, with the understanding that from 12.01 a.m. the following day, all scheduled flights would operate from Bhogapuram. The avenue for civil air travel in Visakhapatnam thus shifted to a new node while naval assets and non-scheduled flights continued at the older site.
Why It Matters
The formal shift of civil movement from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram marks a long-planned redirection of civilian air activity to a greenfield airport, designed to accommodate increased air traffic and reduce civilian movement limits at a naval airfield. By transferring the IATA code VTZ to Bhogapuram, the new airport assumes the city’s aviation identity for scheduled commercial services. The Navy’s historic role in airspace control in Visakhapatnam indicates ongoing complexity in balancing civilian access with security and strategic considerations.
Non-scheduled civil aviation and naval aviation will continue to operate from the older base, preserving some level of air connectivity and military readiness. This arrangement reflects a structured handover process governed by government notifications and the operational realities of dual-use airspace in a port-adjacent region.
Background
The move to Bhogapuram has roots in government authorizations dating back to 2016, when the Centre approved site clearance for a new civilian airport. The Visakhapatnam airfield originated as a wartime military airstrip and has a documented history tied to early World War II events and successive aviation developments. The 30-year cap on civil operations at the naval field was a central element of the arrangement permitting civilian activity only within Navy-assigned slots, a constraint now superseded for Visakhapatnam’s civil enclave specifically through the new greenfield site.
Key Facts
- Last day of commercial operations at Visakhapatnam airport: August 16, 2026
- Final scheduled flight: IndiGo flight 6E 2018 to New Delhi, 10.45 p.m.
- New civil airport: Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram, enters service at 12.01 a.m. on August 17, 2026
- IATA code transfer: VTZ moves to Bhogapuram at the moment new operations commence
- End of scheduled civil operations at INS Dega: August 17, 2026
- Naval control of Visakhapatnam airspace: effective from July 9, 2026
- Continuing operations at INS Dega: non-scheduled civil flights and all naval flying
- 30-year limit on civil movements at the naval field: dates to January 2016
- Historical context: airfield at Buchirajapalem, established in 1941 by the Royal Air Force; wartime events connected to 1942 air operations
What Happens Next
From the midnight transition, Bhogapuram serves as the city’s scheduled civil airport while INS Dega retains non-scheduled civil flights and naval aviation. The IATA code VTZ is now aligned with Bhogapuram, directing future commercial air traffic to the new facility. Civil air activity at Visakhapatnam’s old site will remain limited to non-scheduled operations, under naval oversight, with the airspace management and associated services adjusted to reflect the new arrangement.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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