Bhogapuram Airport begins commercial flight operations

Commercial flight operations began at the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram on Monday, marking a major milestone for air connectivity in North Andhra. An IndiGo flight 6E 6408 from Hyderabad became the first commercial aircraft to land at the airport at around 6.45 am. GMR officials, district authorities and airport staff welcomed the passengers, while the aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the commercial services from Hyderabad and handed over boarding passes to passengers. Travellers arriving on the inaugural flight were also presented with traditional Etikoppaka toys. The first flight from Bhogapuram to Hyderabad departed at around 7.30 am. IndiGo is also set to operate services connecting Bhogapuram with Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Spread across 77,300.42 sq m, the terminal features 22 check-in counters, 18 self-baggage drop units, advanced security screening systems, modern baggage-handling facilities and seven aerobridges. The airport is expected to boost tourism, investment, employment and economic activity across North Andhra. To improve last-mile connectivity, 20 electric buses have also been deployed between Visakhapatnam and Bhogapuram. With commercial operations shifting to Bhogapuram, Visakhapatnam Airport has ceased regular commercial flight operations, marking the beginning of a new phase in the region’s aviation connectivity.

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