Commercial Flight Operations Begin at Bhogapuram Airport

Commercial flight operations began on Monday, August 17, at the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant shift in aviation for the region. The first scheduled passenger flight, an IndiGo service from Hyderabad, landed at the airport, followed by an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu formally flagged off the services and distributed boarding passes to passengers.

The commencement of operations comes just over two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the modern facility on August 1. The launch signifies the official transition of commercial air traffic for the Visakhapatnam region to the new greenfield airport, as scheduled services at the older Visakhapatnam Airport concluded the previous day, August 16. That airport will now be used primarily for general aviation and private flights.

During the inaugural ceremony, Minister Naidu described the event as the beginning of a new chapter for North Andhra, emphasizing its potential to unlock fresh opportunities for investment, tourism, employment, and economic activity. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister...