Visakhapatnam Airport

Visakhapatnam Airport (IATA: VTZ, ICAO: VOVZ) is a custom airport in Visakhapatnam, India. It also operates as a civil enclave on an Indian Navy air base named INS Dega. It lies between the city localities of NAD Cross Road and Gajuwaka. The airport has experienced significant growth since the beginning of the 21st century, with the construction of a new terminal and runway and commencing of international flights. The airport covers an area of 350 acres.

Lush green surroundings of the airport

Visakhapatnam International Airport
Summary
Airport typeCivil enclave
OwnerIndian Navy
Operator
ServesVisakhapatnam
LocationVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation AMSL3 m / 10 ft
Coordinates17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E
Map
VTZ
VTZ
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 3,048 10,000 Asphalt[1]
Statistics (April 2019 - March 2020)
Passengers26,81,283(6%)
Aircraft movements20,935 (11.6%)
Cargo tonnage5,536 (2.6%)
Statistics: AAI[2][3] [4]

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, 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.[5]

Facilities

Structure

The passenger terminal can handle 300 arriving and 700 departing passengers. It covers an area of 20,400 square metres. The airport has total of 11 parking bays.[1]

Runways

The airport has one runways.[1]

  • Runway 10/28: 3,048 by 45 metres (10,000 ft × 148 ft), ILS equipped.

Terminals

The new passenger terminal was opened in 2009 and can handle 2 million passengers per annum. The terminal has 20 check-in counters which includes 11 immigration and nine customs counters. The terminal has three aerobridges.[1]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
IndiGo Airbus A320 at Visakhapatnam Airport, 2014
AirlinesDestinations
AirAsiaKuala Lumpur–International[6]
AirAsia India Bangalore
Air India Delhi, Dubai–International, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Port Blair
Alliance AirHyderabad, Vijayawada
IndiGo Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajahmundry[7]
Scoot Singapore[8][9]

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
SpiceXpress Chennai, Kolkata, Surat [10]

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

INS Dega naval base
Main article: INS Dega

The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in the late 1970s, with the 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.[23] The base has two aprons and is home to several squadrons: INAS 311, INAS 321, INAS 333, and INAS 350.

References
  1. "Visakhapatnam Airport".
  2. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 22 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 22 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-IV" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 22 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2020. url-status=live}}
  5. "Vizag airport terminal to be inaugurated on Feb 20". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. "AirAsia flight schedule". airasia.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. "Flights between Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry". Goindigo.in. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  8. "Scoot adds Vishakhapatnam service in W19". Routesonline. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. Lim, Sean (22 November 2018). "Frequent fliers on some SilkAir routes will soon have to fly Scoot, SIA announces ahead of merger". businessinsider.sg. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. "Spicejet introduces dedicated freighter services from Chennai & Vizag to Surat & Kolkata/Durgapur from 26th Feb 2020". 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  11. "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  12. "Traffic News for the month of January 2018: Annexure II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. "INS Dega". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2013.

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