Commercial flight operations will officially shift from Visakhapatnam Airport to the newly developed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram from August 17, marking a major milestone in Andhra Pradesh's aviation infrastructure.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, all commercial services operating from the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) will cease from 00:01 hours on August 17, with operations moving to the new airport in Vizianagaram district.

The transition follows the inauguration of the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. Developed at an investment of nearly Rs 4,727 crore, the Greenfield airport has been completed in just 31 months, nearly five months ahead of schedule, making it one of the fastest-completed international Greenfield airports in the country.

The Ministry also announced that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code "VTZ", currently used by Visakhapatnam Airport, will be transferred to the new airport from 00:01 hours on August 17. Additionally, the Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport has officially been renamed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport with immediate effect.

While commercial flight operations will move entirely to the new airport, the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport will remain reserved for national emergencies and aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force, other Armed Forces, police authorities, and special government-owned, leased, or hired VIP aircraft.

The airport has already received its DGCA aerodrome licence, along with all mandatory safety, fire, and environmental clearances, and is ready to begin commercial operations.

In its first phase, the airport has been designed to handle 6 million passengers annually, with a long-term master plan to expand its capacity to 40 million passengers per year.

Spread across 2,703.26 acres, the integrated project includes 2,203.32 acres for the airport, 500 acres for an aviation hub, and 136.63 acres earmarked for an Aviation University and EduCity. The development also features commercial spaces, residential zones, approach roads, and supporting infrastructure.

The airport's 3,800-metre Code-E runway is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330, and Airbus A340. It is equipped with advanced airfield lighting, navigation systems, and CNS/ATM infrastructure to support both domestic and international operations.

Passengers will also benefit from modern terminal facilities such as contact boarding bridges, Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), self-baggage drop, self-service passenger processing, smart surveillance, integrated security systems, and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre.

The new airport is expected to play a significant role in strengthening tourism, trade, exports, logistics, industrial investment, and the aerospace and defence sectors across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts, while enhancing Andhra Pradesh's overall air connectivity.