India Shifts Commercial Flights to Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport

The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that scheduled commercial flight operations at Visakhapatnam Airport will transfer to the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, effective August 17 at 12:01 am. As part of this transition, the international air transport code VTZ will also transfer to the new facility on the same date.

The civil enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport will remain closed for scheduled commercial operations for 30 years. However, the facility will continue to support non-scheduled commercial flights, military aircraft, police, and government dignitaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new airport on August 1. The project was constructed by the GMR Group through a public-private partnership model. The Government of Andhra Pradesh cabinet selected the name of the airport to honor freedom fighter Alluri Sitaramaraju.