Vizag flights shift to Bhogapuram from August 17; INS Dega closed to scheduled services for 30 years
The Civil Aviation Ministry has notified the cutoff at 00:01 hours on August 17; military, police, emergency and VIP flights are exempt from the 30-year closure at INS Dega, and non-scheduled commercial flights may continue there
From August 17, 2026, all scheduled commercial flight operations at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) will be relocated to the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, according to a notification by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The international aerodrome code VTZ will also shift to the new airport on the same date.
The old airport will cease handling commercial flights for the next 30 years, while the Indian Air Force, armed forces, police, and other relevant authorities will be exempt from the closure. The Bhogapuram airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, is a greenfield project costing ₹4,727 crore and built by the GMR Group in just 31 months.
It can accommodate six million passengers annually in its initial phase and features an aviation hub, educational zone, and extensive facilities spread across 2,700 acres. The shift is anticipated to boost industrial growth, exports, and tourism in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts.
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