Rajahmundry Airport

Rajahmundry Airport (IATA: RJA, ICAO: VORY) is a domestic airport serving the city of Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at Madhurapudi, 16 km (9.9 mi) north from the city centre, on National Highway 516E. It is currently owned by Mudunuri Sriram. During 1985–1994, it was used by Vayudoot. It is heavily used by the helicopters of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and other government agencies for offshore oil exploration operations.[4]

"VORY" redirects here. For the American rapper, see Vory.

Rajahmundry Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesRajamahendravaram
LocationMadhurapudi, Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation AMSL151 ft / 46 m
Coordinates17°06′37″N 081°49′06″E
WebsiteRajahmundry Airport
Map
RJA is located in Andhra Pradesh
RJA
RJA
RJA is located in India
RJA
RJA
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
05/23 10,384 3,165 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2022 - March 2023)
Passengers432,804 (Increase 57%)
Aircraft movements9,812 (Increase 39.8%)
Cargo tonnage23 (Increase 39.1%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

History
Aerial View of Rajahmundry Airport

The airport was constructed during the British era and is spread over an area of 366 acres (148 ha). It was served by Vayudoot between 1985 and 1994 and by VIF Airways in 1995.[5] The Andhra Pradesh government signed an MoU worth ₹23 crore (equivalent to ₹69 crore or US$8.7 million in 2023) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in February 2007 for modernising the airport.[4] Works on a new terminal building to accommodate 150 passengers and a control tower were completed in 2011 at a cost of ₹38 crore (US$4.8 million). The terminal was inaugurated on 16 May 2012.[6]

Limited by the runway length, airlines operate smaller 70 seat turbo-prop aircraft like the ATR-72 and the Q-400. The AAI has extended the existing runway from 1,749 metres (5,738 ft) to 3,165 metres (10,384 ft) to enable landing of aircraft like the Airbus A320, Airbus A321 and it was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on 12 February 2019.[7] Approximately, 800 acres have been acquired for this expansion.[6] The government is aiming to develop this airport as an international airport.[8]

The airport has seen a rapid increase of passenger footfall during the second half of 2020 – from 7,700 in July to 28,900 in December. As part of the expansion plans, construction of a new terminal is proposed at a cost of ₹135 crore (equivalent to ₹151 crore or US$19 million in 2023). The new terminal would be able to handle about 1,400 passengers.[9]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
IndiGoBangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad

References
  1. "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. "Night landing facility soon at Rajahmundry". The Hindu. 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  5. "VIF Airways Profile". India Infoline. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  6. "Rajahmundry airport terminal becomes operational". The Hindu Business Line. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. "Expanded runways operational at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry airports". The New Indian Express. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. "Rajahmundry airport to have longest runway in State". The Hindu. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. Raj, Samson (17 January 2021). "New terminal at Rajahmundry airport soon". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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