Vijayawada Airport
Airport serving Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vijayawada Airport (IATA: VGA, ICAO: VOBZ) is an international airport serving the city of Vijayawada and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region in India. The airport is located in Gannavaram, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Vijayawada.
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Vijayawada Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Serves | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Capital Region | ||||||||||
| Location | Gannavaram, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 82 ft (25 m) | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 16°31′44″N 80°47′45″E | ||||||||||
| Website | Vijayawada Airport | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
.svg)  VGA Location within Andhra Pradesh  VGA Location within India | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (April 2025 – March 2026) | |||||||||||
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| Source: AAI[1][2][3] | |||||||||||
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History
The airfield at Gannavaram served as an army base during World War II, after which it was converted into a civilian airport. Passenger operations remained limited for decades. Air Deccan introduced a daily service between Hyderabad and Vijayawada in September 2003.[4] Until 2011, the airport accommodated only four flights a day, operated primarily by Kingfisher Airlines.[5]
To cater to increasing passenger traffic, the foundation stone for a new interim terminal building was laid in October 2015.[6] The terminal, designed to handle two million passengers per annum, was inaugurated on 12 January 2017.[7] Following the shift of domestic operations to the interim terminal, the old airport terminal building was closed, refurbished, and equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle international services.[8]
The Central Government officially granted international status to the airport on 3 May 2017.[9] After the state government offered viability gap funding (VGF) to airlines, private operator IndiGo secured the contract to operate international routes.[10] On 4 December 2018, an IndiGo flight departed for Singapore Changi Airport, marking the inaugural international flight from Vijayawada.[11]
Facilities
Runways and structure
The airport features a single runway, designated 08/26, which was extended to 3,360 by 45 metres (11,024 ft × 148 ft) in 2019. The runway is capable of handling both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 747, and is equipped with a Category I ILS.[12] The airport's apron has been expanded in phases and currently features 24 parking bays capable of accommodating Airbus A320, Boeing 737, ATR-72, and Bombardier Q400 aircraft.[13]
Interim terminal
The interim terminal spreads over 12,999 square metres and includes a check-in area, arrival hall, meet-and-greet service staircase, aviation lounge, and a baggage pick-up area. The terminal handles up to 500 passengers at peak hours and features 18 check-in counters, two conveyor belts, and six boarding gates.[14]
Expansion
To accommodate future growth, a new integrated terminal building is currently under construction. The foundation stone was laid on 4 December 2018 by the then Minister of Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu.[15] The 51,315-square-metre steel and glass structure is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of ₹824.28 crore.[16]
The new terminal is designed to handle 3.5 million passengers annually and accommodate up to 1,200 peak-hour passengers (800 domestic and 400 international). It will feature 24 check-in counters, eight customs and immigration counters, six passenger boarding bridges, nine departure gates, and modernized infrastructure to support larger flight volumes. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent contractor changes in early 2026, the completion deadline was revised. The terminal is scheduled for full operational readiness by late 2026.[17][18]
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Transport
Vijayawada Airport is situated on National Highway 16, which connects Chennai and Kolkata. The airport is accessible from the city via public buses, airport taxis, and ride-hailing services.[citation needed]
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air India | Delhi,[19] Mumbai[19] |
| Air India Express | Bengaluru,[20] Hyderabad,[21] Sharjah,[22] Visakhapatnam[21] |
| Fly91 | Hyderabad[23] |
| IndiGo | Bengaluru,[24] Chennai,[24] Delhi,[25] Hyderabad,[24] Kadapa,[26] Kurnool,[27] Mumbai,[25] Singapore,[28] Tirupati,[29] Varanasi (begins 13 August 2026),[30] Visakhapatnam[29] |
Statistics
| Year | Domestic passenger traffic | Domestic aircraft movements | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | Percent change | Aircraft movements | Percent change | |
| 2025–26 | 1,411,325[31] | +1.6% | 17,536[32] | −5.5% |
| 2024–25 | 1,388,943[33] | +35.4% | 18,558[34] | +24.3% |
| 2023–24 | 1,025,734[35] | +10.3% | 14,934[36] | +4.4% |
| 2022–23 | 929,765[37] | +60.6% | 14,300[38] | +61.9% |
| 2021–22 | 579,111[39] | +33.2% | 8,833[40] | +28.7% |
| 2020–21 | 434,737[41] | −61.4% | 6,863[42] | −54.8% |
| 2019–20 | 1,125,551[43] | −4.5% | 15,190[44] | −19.9% |
| 2018–19 | 1,178,559[45] | +57.9% | 18,957[46] | +58.0% |
| 2017–18 | 746,392[47] | +19.9% | 11,999[citation needed] | +16.1% |
| 2016–17 | 622,354[48] | +56.1% | 10,333[49] | +54.8% |
| 2015–16 | 398,643[citation needed] | +71.9% | 6,676[citation needed] | +43.9% |
| 2014–15 | 231,931[citation needed] | NA | 4,639[citation needed] | NA |
Accidents and incidents
- On 28 August 1980, Vickers Viscount VT-DJC of Huns Air was damaged beyond economic repair when the nosewheel collapsed after the aircraft bounced three times on landing.[50]
