Visakhapatnam Airport

Visakhapatnam International Airport
IATA: VTZ ICAO: VOVZ
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Owner	Indian Navy
Operator	Indian Navy Airports Authority of India
Serves	Visakhapatnam
Location	Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Hub for	Alliance Air
Focus city for	IndiGo
Elevation AMSL	3 m / 10 ft
Coordinates	17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E / 17.72111°N 83.22444°E / 17.72111; 83.22444Coordinates: 17°43′16″N 083°13′28″E / 17.72111°N 83.22444°E / 17.72111; 83.22444
Website	www.flyvizag.com
Map
VTZ Show map of Andhra Pradesh VTZ Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 1,829 6,000 Asphalt 10/28 3,050 10,007 Asphalt
Statistics (Apr 2016 - Mar 2017)
Passenger movements 2,358,029 (30.7%) Aircraft movements 19,550 (16.8%) Cargo tonnage 4,708 (59.1%)
Source: AAI,[1][2][3]

Visakhapatnam Airport (IATA: VTZ, ICAO: VOVZ) is a customs airport located in Visakhapatnam, India. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) from Visakhapatnam and operates as a civil enclave on an Indian Navy air base named INS Dega. 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 to Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo.

History

In 1981, the airport commenced civilian operations with one flight per day. The original runway was 6,000 ft (1,800 m) long and 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.^[4]

Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. Currently the integrated terminal handles both international and domestic flights. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has converted the old terminal into a cargo complex.

Passenger terminal

As part of a program to modernize 35 non-metro airports, AAI constructed a state-of-the-art integrated passenger terminal adjacent to the old terminal, at a cost of ₹1 billion (US$16 million). The new terminal building was inaugurated on 20 February 2009. A total of 350 acres (140 ha) land area was used for the project. The terminal has an area of 20,470 m² (220,300 sq ft) and can handle 375 passengers on arrival and 750 on departure at a time. It has three jet bridges and the original apron with parking bays for two aircraft was expanded with bays for another six; three to handle Airbus A340 or Boeing 747-400-sized aircraft; two for medium-sized aircraft; and one to handle regional aircraft such as the ATR 72. There are three remote aircraft parking bays and an isolation bay at the end of Runway 10/28 as well.

Cargo terminal

The old passenger terminal has been modified into a cargo complex that can handle two Boeing 737-sized aircraft at a time, or a single Boeing 747.

Airport Expansion

Due to growing air traffic at the airport, the AAI has made plans to construct six additional aircraft parking bays by extending the apron. Which will be operational by June 2017.

The newly built parking bays will be used as a night parking facilities for aircraft in off peak hours. Alliance Air is the first airline to use the parking facility at the airport starting 1st April 2017.

Runways

The airport has two runways: 10/28 (East - West orientation) 3,050 m (10,010 ft) in length; and 05/23 (Northeast - Southwest orientation) with a length of 1,829 m (6,001 ft). Runway 10/28 is used as the primary runway for both civil and military operations, although civilian operations from Runway 10 are restricted to inbound operations. Runway 05/23 is exclusively for military operations. The airport operates on a 24-hours basis.

Airlines and destinations

IndiGo Airbus A320 at Visakhapatnam Airport, 2014

Statistics

Statistics for Visakhapatnam Airport - Source: AAI^[5]

Year	Total passengers	Total Percentage Change	Total aircraft movements	Total Percentage change	Total Cargo Handled	Total Percentage Change
2016-17	2,358,029	30.7%	19,550	16.8%	4,708	59.1%
2015-16	1,804,634	64.1%	16,739	46.3%	2,960	5.2%
2014-15	1,099,480	8.6%	11,445	4.0%	2,812	54.3%
2013-14	1,012,522	2.4%	11,008	27.5%	1,823	10.9%
2012-13	1,037,608	8.3%	15,129	2.3%	1,644	57.2%
2011-12	958,160	34.7%	15,488	31.4%	1,046	5.5%
2010-11	711,566	12.8%	11,785	2.4%	1,107	18.0%

Ground transport

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from the airport to Dwaraka Nagar Bus Station (RTC Complex) and Kakinada; and all city services from and to Gajuwaka and Steel Plant have a stop here. Recently APSRTC had launched AC Metroluxury services from Airport to RTC complex, Madhurawada and Vizianagaram. Visakhapatnam Airport is situated around 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of the Visakhapatnam Railway Station and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Duvvada railway station

Awards and recognition

• Visakhapatnam Airport was awarded Best Airport in Tier-2 Airport Category(Rest of India) in National Tourism Awards 2011-2012.^[6]

INS Dega naval base

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.^[7] The base has two aprons and is home to several squadrons, these being INAS 311, INAS 321, INAS 333, INAS 350.

Accidents and incidents

• The airport was extensively damaged during Cyclone Hudhud in October 2014, with winds blasting at speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph); the runway was inundated and navigational aids destroyed, the terminal building roof also suffered substantial damage.^[8] The airport was shut down for commercial operations on 11 October as a precautionary measure; and naval- and other flights carrying relief materials were the only aircraft operating from the airport.^[9] The airport re-commenced partial operations from 17 October after electrical power was restored. AAI restored the airport to full operations within the span of three months.^[10]

References

External links

Media related to Visakhapatnam Airport at Wikimedia Commons