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Visakhapatnam Airport

Coordinates: 17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E / 17.72111°N 83.22444°E / 17.72111; 83.22444
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This article is about the current operational airport. For the upcoming airport in the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region, see Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.

Visakhapatnam Airport
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/public
OwnerIndian Navy
Operator
ServesVisakhapatnam
LocationVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation AMSL3 m / 10 ft
Coordinates17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E / 17.72111°N 83.22444°E / 17.72111; 83.22444
WebsiteVishakhapatnam Airport
Map
VTZ is located in Visakhapatnam
VTZ
VTZ
VTZ is located in Andhra Pradesh
VTZ
VTZ
VTZ is located in India
VTZ
VTZ
VTZ is located in Asia
VTZ
VTZ
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 3,050 10,007 Asphalt[1]
05/23 1,829 6,000 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 – March 2024)
Passengers2,788,665 (Increase 11.5%)
Aircraft movements20,071 (Decrease 4.2%)
Cargo tonnage4,032 (Decrease 9.1%)
Source: AAI[2][3][4]

Visakhapatnam Airport[5] (IATA: VTZ, ICAO: VOVZ), officially known as Visakhapatnam International Airport, is a customs airport in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It also operates as a civil enclave on the Indian Navy airbase, INS Dega. It lies between the city localities of NAD X Road and Gajuwaka. The airport covers an area of 350 acres. The airport has experienced significant growth since the beginning of the 21st century, with the construction of a new terminal and runway and the commencing of international flights.

History

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Terminal view of the airport
Full view of the airport
Side view of the airport

In 1981, the airport commenced civilian operations with one flight per day. The original runway was 6,000 ft (1,800 m) long. A new 10,007 ft (3,050 m) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide runway was inaugurated on 15 June 2007 to accommodate medium-sized and wide-body aircraft, with the installation and calibration of an instrument landing system (ILS) on Runway 28 as well. Used initially only for military operations from 16 June 2007, the ILS became operational for commercial aircraft from 30 March 2008. A new terminal building was inaugurated on 20 February 2009 and became operational on 27 March that year.[6][7]

On 17 November 2011, the ICAO airport code was changed from VEVZ to VOVZ.[8]

In September 2022, the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Limited (APADCL) and Indian Navy officials have signed a MoU in New Delhi to move the civilian operations of Visakhapatnam Airport to the new Bhogapuram facility. The existing Visakhapatnam Airport is spread across 300 acres, out of which 170 acres will be handed over to the Indian Navy and the remaining 130 acres to Airport Authority of India (AAI) as per the MoU rules.[9] Before the new airport gets completed at least by 2025, a new terminal has been proposed by the AAI, which will be built at a cost of ₹ 240 crore, and will have four additional parking bays as part of a new apron. The new terminal is a part of the next five-year plan of the airport.[10]

Facilities

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Structure

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The passenger terminal can handle 700 arriving and 1300 departing passengers. It covers an area of 31,400 square meters. The airport has a total of 18 parking bays.[1]

Runways

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The airport has two runways.[1]

  • Runway 10/28: 3,050 by 45 metres (10,007 ft × 148 ft), ILS CAT-1 equipped in Runway 28
  • Runway 05/23: 1,829 by 45 metres (6,001 ft × 148 ft)

Terminals

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The passenger terminal was opened in 2009 and can handle 2 million passengers per annum. After seeing a greater number of passengers, AAI started upgrading the present terminal on either side, adding 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft) to the existing structure, making the total area 31,000 m2 (330,000 sq ft). The terminal has 20 check-in counters, which include 11 immigration and nine customs counters. The terminal has three aero-bridges.[1] There are plans to increase services, check-in counters, immigration counters, and parking bays at the present terminal. A new taxiway numbered N5 was opened to increase flight movements per hour to 15.

Airlines and destinations

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Apron area of the airport
AirlinesDestinations
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International[11]
Air India Delhi, Mumbai, Port Blair
Air India Express Bangalore, Hyderabad, Vijayawada[12]
IndiaOne Air Jeypore
IndiGoBangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kurnool, Mumbai, Tirupati, Vijayawada
Scoot Singapore
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang

Statistics

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Annual passenger traffic at VTZ airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger traffic and aircraft movements at Visakhapatnam Airport
Year Passenger traffic Aircraft movement
Passengers Percent change Aircraft movements Percent change
2018 2,815,205[13] +16.8% 23,264[14] +21.2%
2017 2,409,712[15] +5.8% 19,193[16] +1.0%
2016 2,277,335[15] +44.4% 19,007[16] +23.7%
2015 1,577,497[17] +49.4% 15,361[18] +42.2%
2014 1,056,096[17] +5.9% 10,804[18] −8.8%
2013 1,025,396[19] −1.8% 11,846[20] −25.5%
2012 1,044,906[19] +19.0% 15,896[20] +10.6%
2011 878,000[21] +29.4% 14,367[22] +25.9%
2010 678,255[21] +8.4% 11,413[22] −5.8%
2009 625,767[23] 12,115[24]

INS Dega naval base

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This section is an excerpt from INS Dega § History.[edit]

The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in when the 321 Helicopter Flight was based at INS Circars in Visakhapatnam on 23 December 1972. In 1976, four helipads along with hangars were set up adjacent to the civil airfield. On 12 March 1986, the civilian Visakhapatnam Airport was transferred from the National Airport Authority of India (now, Airports Authority of India) to the Indian Navy. The air station was then designated as Naval Air Station, Visakhapatnam. The 321 Chetak Flight was initially based in the Air Base along with other shipborne flights. Additional hangars, maintenance facilities and an operations complex were constructed soon after.

On 21 October 1991, the air station was renamed and formally commissioned as INS Dega by then Vice Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas. It is named for the Telugu language word for a big and powerful bird of the eagle family.[25][26]

The base has two aprons and is home to several squadrons: INAS 551, INAS 311, INAS 321, INAS 333, and INAS 350.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Visakhapatnam Airport".
  2. ^ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Visakhapatnam Airport". Airports Authority of India. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. ^ "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Vizag airport terminal to be inaugurated on Feb 20". The Business Line. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  8. ^ ICAO code changed from VEVZ to VOVZ, 17 Nov 2011
  9. ^ "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Proposal sent for construction of new terminal building with ₹240 crore at Vizag Airport". The Hindu. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  11. ^ "AirAsia set to resume flights to Visakhapatnam, India in April". 31 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Vizag to Vijayawada Flights".
  13. ^ "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Traffic News for the month of January 2017: Annexure III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Traffic News for the month of January 2017: Annexure II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  17. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2015: Annexure III (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 9 March 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 4 April 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2015: Annexure II (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 9 March 2015. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  19. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2013: Annexure III (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 27 March 2013. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  20. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2013: Annexure II (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 27 March 2013. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  21. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2011: Annexure III (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 18 March 2011. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  22. ^ a b Traffic News for the month of January 2011: Annexure II (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 18 March 2011. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  23. ^ Traffic News for the month of January 2009: Annexure III (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 5 January 2010. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  24. ^ Traffic News for the month of January 2009: Annexure II (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 5 January 2010. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  25. ^ "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Indian Naval Ship Dega". www.facebook.com. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
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