Commercial flights kicked off at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram on Monday,August 17, 2026. Big change for area travel. airport now handles all scheduled flights,taking over from the old civil enclave at INS Dega,which shut down at midnight before launch.
First plane to touch down was IndiGo flight 6E 6408 from Hyderabad,landing at 6:45 a.m . Then Air India Express flight IX 2064 from Bengaluru arrived at 7:30 a.m. First departure was Air India Express flight IX 2745 to Hyderabad, taking off at 8:50 a.m . Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu launched the airport, handing out boarding passes to first passengers himself.
Travelers seemed happy with new facilities. Vikram Penmetsa, a chartered accountant from Siripuram,shared his thoughts after driving in with his wife. Left home at 6 a.m.,reached terminal by 6:50 a.m.,a 50-minute drive. Longer than the old 20-minute trip to INS Dega,but he thinks new airport's scale and sophistication make it worth it . “The interior is awesome, looking international standards. There is lot of difference between old Visakhapatnam Airport and this new facility,” Penmetsa said .
Malathi Nagabhairava flew in from Hyderabad, one of the first to arrive. She enjoyed the flight,noting pilot's family was on board, adding to her sense of security. “Everything incorporates latest and greatest technology with modern digitised systems, while still retaining warm,traditional touch,” she said,mentioning they were greeted with live Indian music,chocolates,and photo booth celebrating their arrival .
V. Koteswara Rao,retired BSNL employee, came to see his daughter off to Bahrain. Found new facility spacious, convenient for three districts of north Andhra Pradesh. Airport covers about 2,200 acres, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1,2026. Opens with capacity for six million passengers a year, boosting regional connectivity .
Drive to new airport has some commuters concerned. Morning trip was smooth,but there's worry about traffic jams during peak hours. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) offers e-bus services for ₹300, while taxi fares range from ₹800 to ₹1,500,depending on distance from Visakhapatnam .
As Bhogapuram airport starts operations,it's set to expand travel options for residents and visitors. Transition from INS Dega to new terminal a big step for Andhra Pradesh. International flights could be next…
