# Visakhapatnam Airport

Visakhapatnam Airport (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

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

## Facilities
### Structure

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.

### Runways

The airport has two runways.
* 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

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 m$^2$ (110,000 sq ft) to the existing structure, making the total area 31,000 m$^2$ (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. 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

| Airlines | Destinations |
| AirAsia | Kuala Lumpur–International |
| Air India | Delhi, Mumbai, Port Blair |
| Air India Express | Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada |
| IndiaOne Air | Jeypore |
| IndiGo | Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kurnool, Mumbai, Tirupati, Vijayawada |
| Scoot | Singapore |
| Thai AirAsia | Bangkok–Don Mueang |

## Statistics

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

## INS Dega naval base

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