From today, 17 August 2026, every scheduled commercial flight to and from Visakhapatnam operates from a different airport. The old Visakhapatnam Airport at INS Dega stopped handling commercial flights at midnight on 16 August. All of those flights now use Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, in Vizianagaram district, around 50 km away.
The airport code has not changed. Your ticket still says VTZ. The building it takes you to is new.
If you are flying in the next few weeks, the two things that matter are: leave earlier than you used to, and tell whoever is picking you up that the address has changed. Nothing about your booking is invalid.
Booked through us, or need a ticket on this corridor? WhatsApp +91 63003 03169 and our domestic desk will confirm which airport your flight uses and re-time your airport transfer. We are an IATA-certified agency and we book every airline flying this route.
Have Visakhapatnam flights moved to Bhogapuram airport?
Yes. All scheduled commercial flights moved with effect from 17 August 2026.
Commercial operations at the old Visakhapatnam Airport — the civil enclave at INS Dega — ended from midnight on 16 August 2026. Commercial passenger services at the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram began on the morning of 17 August, with domestic flights first.
An international service to Singapore had originally been planned as the inaugural flight on 16 August. That was revised, and domestic operations opened the airport instead.
Which airlines have moved from Visakhapatnam airport to Bhogapuram?
All of them. This is not one airline’s decision — the old airport has stopped accepting scheduled commercial flights altogether, so every carrier that served Visakhapatnam has moved.
Air India confirmed it in its own passenger alert on 13 August 2026: “Effective 17 August 2026, all Air India flights to and from Visakhapatnam will operate from the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram.” IndiGo, the largest operator on the route, scheduled 31 services on opening day.
So the answer to the question people are actually asking — is it only my airline, or everyone? — is everyone. If your flight says Visakhapatnam and it departs on or after 17 August 2026, it departs from Bhogapuram, whichever airline you booked.
Is the airport code still VTZ after the Bhogapuram move?
Yes. The code VTZ transferred from the old airport to Bhogapuram at 12:01 am on 17 August 2026.
This is the detail that causes the most confusion, so it is worth being blunt about it. Your ticket, your boarding pass, your booking confirmation and every airline app will still show VTZ. Nothing about that is wrong and nothing needs reissuing. The code now points to a different set of coordinates.
The practical risk is not your ticket. It is your cab. A driver told “VTZ” or “Vizag airport” may still head to the old airport out of habit. Say Bhogapuram out loud when you book the pickup.
Is the old Visakhapatnam airport closed for good?
For scheduled commercial flights, effectively yes — and for a long time.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stated that scheduled commercial flights from Visakhapatnam Airport will remain suspended for the next 30 years, with exceptions during national emergencies. Indian Air Force and armed forces operations, police aircraft, government and VIP flights, leased aircraft and non-scheduled commercial services continue from INS Dega.
In plain terms: the runway is still there and still busy, but you will not board a ticketed airline flight from it.
What does the Bhogapuram move mean for a ticket I already booked?
Your ticket is valid and no action is needed on the booking itself. What changes is your ground plan.
Three things worth doing before you travel:
- Add travel time to the airport. The new airport is roughly 50 km from the old one. Whatever buffer you used for Vizag airport is now too small.
- Re-book the pickup or drop by name, not by code. “Bhogapuram” or “Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport”, not “Vizag airport”.
- Tell anyone receiving you. Family arriving at the old terminal to meet a flight is the single most likely thing to go wrong this month.
If you booked through us, our domestic desk has already flagged affected bookings. If you booked elsewhere and want a second pair of eyes on your itinerary, message us — we will check it whether or not you bought the ticket from us.
How far is Bhogapuram airport from Visakhapatnam city, and how long is the drive?
Bhogapuram airport sits off National Highway 16 in Vizianagaram district, north-east of Visakhapatnam.
Air India’s passenger alert describes it as approximately 50 km from the previous airport. The airport’s own material puts it at roughly 45 km from Visakhapatnam. Those are two different starting points, which is why the two figures differ.
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Visakhapatnam railway station | 46.8 km | 1h 12m |
| Dwaraka Nagar | 44.4 km | 1h 6m |
| Old Visakhapatnam airport (INS Dega) | approx. 50 km (Air India) | 1h 21m |
Which cities does Bhogapuram airport connect to right now?
Seven domestic cities on day one, all on IndiGo: Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Tirupati. Air India also operates its full Visakhapatnam network from the new airport.
Hyderabad is by far the thickest link, with seven departures scheduled on the opening day — which makes this a Hyderabad corridor story as much as a Vizag one.
| Bhogapuram to | Departures announced for opening day |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad | 08:55, 10:40, 13:00, 16:25, 19:20, 20:40, 21:20 |
| Delhi | 08:20, 22:45 |
| Bengaluru | 14:55, 21:10 |
| Chennai | 12:15, 18:35 |
| Mumbai | 15:05 |
| Kolkata | 19:50 |
| Tirupati | 13:50 |
Opening-day schedule as announced. Timings change week to week — confirm at booking. Last verified 17 August 2026.
Flying Hyderabad to Vizag or Vizag to Hyderabad? Send us your dates on WhatsApp and we will quote across every airline on the route, not just one. See our full flight booking service.
Will Bhogapuram airport have international flights?
It is built for them, and Singapore is expected to be the first international route.
The airport has full international passenger facilities including immigration and customs, which the old civil enclave did not offer at this scale. A Singapore service was planned as the inaugural flight before the schedule was revised to open with domestic operations.
No international departure date has been published as of 17 August 2026. When one is, it changes the calculation for a lot of families in north Andhra who currently connect through Hyderabad or Chennai.
If Singapore is on your list, the visa is the part worth starting early — see our Singapore tourist visa service.
Can IMAD Travel book flights from Bhogapuram even though you are in Hyderabad?
Yes, and this is worth clearing up because people assume a Hyderabad agency only sells Hyderabad departures.
We book through Amadeus and other global distribution systems, which means we issue tickets on any airline, from any airport, in any direction — Bhogapuram to Delhi, Delhi to Bhogapuram, or a Bhogapuram departure connecting onward to an international sector. Our IATA accreditation is what lets us issue those tickets directly rather than resell someone else’s.
What that is actually worth to you in a week like this one: when an airport changes overnight, a booking desk that can see every carrier’s inventory at once can re-time a connection or move a passenger to a workable flight in one call. An app cannot do that, and a single-airline call centre will only offer you its own flights.
Our domestic coordinator Mr. Shafi Ansari handles this corridor. Message him directly on +916300303169 or use our domestic travel desk. If you want the trip bundled with a stay, our India tour packages cover the Andhra coast.
How do I get alerted when new Bhogapuram routes or international flights open?
WhatsApp +916300303169 with “Alert me — Bhogapuram routes” and the destination you are waiting for.
We will message you when the international schedule is published, when a new domestic city is added, or when a second carrier enters a route you care about. No obligation to book with us.
This airport is going to add routes through the next several months. Being told the week a route opens, rather than finding out three months later, is worth a one-line message.
Frequently asked questions
Have Visakhapatnam flights moved to Bhogapuram airport?
Yes. All scheduled commercial flights to and from Visakhapatnam operate from Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram with effect from 17 August 2026.
Which airlines have moved to Bhogapuram airport?
All of them. The old Visakhapatnam airport has stopped accepting scheduled commercial flights, so every carrier has moved. Air India confirmed its own move in a passenger alert dated 13 August 2026; IndiGo operated 31 services on opening day.
Is the airport code for Visakhapatnam still VTZ?
Yes. The VTZ code transferred to Bhogapuram at 12:01 am on 17 August 2026. Your ticket does not need reissuing.
Is the old Visakhapatnam airport closed?
It is closed to scheduled commercial flights. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said commercial services will remain suspended there for 30 years, with emergency exceptions. Air Force, government, VIP, leased and non-scheduled flights continue from INS Dega.
Do I need a new ticket after the Bhogapuram airport shift?
No. Existing tickets remain valid. Only your travel time to the airport and your pickup arrangements change.
How far is Bhogapuram airport from Visakhapatnam?
Air India describes it as approximately 50 km from the previous airport; the airport is roughly 45 km from Visakhapatnam, off NH16. (55.4 km)
Which cities can I fly to from Bhogapuram airport?
On opening day, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Tirupati on IndiGo, plus Air India’s Visakhapatnam network.
How many flights go from Bhogapuram to Hyderabad?
Seven IndiGo departures were scheduled on opening day, making Hyderabad the thickest link from the new airport.
Does Bhogapuram airport have international flights?
It has international facilities including immigration and customs, and Singapore is expected to be the first international destination. No international start date has been published as of 17 August 2026.
Can I book Bhogapuram flights through a Hyderabad travel agency?
Yes. IMAD Travel is IATA-accredited and books through Amadeus and other global distribution systems, so we issue tickets on any airline from any airport, including Bhogapuram departures and onward international connections.
Who do I contact at IMAD Travel about a Visakhapatnam or Bhogapuram flight?
Our domestic coordinator Mr. Shafi Ansari handles this corridor. WhatsApp +91 63003 03169 or contact our domestic travel desk.
How do I get alerted when Bhogapuram international flights start?
WhatsApp +91 63003 03169 with “Alert me — Bhogapuram routes” and your destination.
