Visakhapatnam Airport

Visakhapatnam Airport[5] (IATA: VTZ, ICAO: VOVZ) is a customs airport in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It also operates as a civil enclave on an Indian Navy airbase named 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. The airport covers an area of 350 acres.

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
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
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 3,050 10,007 Asphalt[1]
05/23 1,829 6,000 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2022 - March 2023)
Passengers2,500,654 (Increase 55.3%)
Aircraft movements20,961 (Increase 40.9%)
Cargo tonnage4,434 (Increase 2.5%)
Source: AAI[2][3][4]

History
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, 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]

On 17 November 2011, the ICAO airport code was changed from VEVZ to VOVZ.[7]

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.[8] 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 5-year plan of the airport.[9]

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.[1]

Runways

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

The passenger terminal was opened in 2009 and can handle 2 million passengers per annum. After seeing greater number of footfall, AAI started upgrading present terminal on either sides adding 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft) to existing structure, making total area to 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] Also there are plans to increase new services, check-in counters, immigration counters, parking bays to present terminal. Also, a new taxiway numbered N5, was opened in terminal to increase flight movements per hour to 15.

Airlines and destinations
Apron area of the airport
AirlinesDestinations
Air India Delhi, Mumbai, Port Blair
Air India Express Bangalore, Hyderabad
IndiaOne Air Jeypore
IndiGoBangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kadapa, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Tirupati, Vijayawada
Scoot Singapore
SpiceJet Bangalore, Hyderabad,[10] Kolkata (resumes 29 October 2023)[11]

Statistics
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[12] +16.8% 23,264[13] +21.2%
2017 2,409,712[14] +5.8% 19,193[15] +1.0%
2016 2,277,335[14] +44.4% 19,007[15] +23.7%
2015 1,577,497[16] +49.4% 15,361[17] +42.2%
2014 1,056,096[16] +5.9% 10,804[17] −8.8%
2013 1,025,396[18] −1.8% 11,846[19] −25.5%
2012 1,044,906[18] +19.0% 15,896[19] +10.6%
2011 878,000[20] +29.4% 14,367[21] +25.9%
2010 678,255[20] +8.4% 11,413[21] −5.8%
2009 625,767[22] 12,115[23]

INS Dega naval base
Main article: INS Dega

The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in the late 1970s, with construction of four helipads adjacent to the civil airfield. The airport at Visakhapatnam was transferred to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in 1981. Additional hangars, maintenance facilities, and an operations complex were constructed soon after. The air station was called "Naval Air Station, Visakhapatnam".

On 21 October 1991, the air station was renamed and formally commissioned as INS Dega.[24] The base has two aprons and is home to several squadrons: INAS 311, INAS 321, INAS 333, and INAS 350.

See also

References
  1. "Visakhapatnam Airport".
  2. "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  5. "Visakhapatnam Airport". Airports Authority of India. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. "Vizag airport terminal to be inaugurated on Feb 20". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  7. ICAO code changed from VEVZ to VOVZ, 17 Nov 2011
  8. "Bhogapuram Airport to start soon". Eenadu. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  9. "Proposal sent for construction of new terminal building with ₹240 crore at Vizag Airport". The Hindu. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. "SpiceJet to resume Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam service from Aug-2023". CAPA. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. Velani, Bhavya (14 September 2023). "SpiceJet Adds New Flights to Its Winter Schedule – Exclusive". Aviation A2Z. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  13. "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  14. "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.
  15. "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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
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