Vijayawada Airport Explained

Vijayawada Airport
Iata:VGA
Coordinates:16.5289°N 80.7958°W
Icao:VOBZ
Pushpin Map:India Andhra Pradesh#India
Pushpin Label:VGA
Type:Public
Owner:Airports Authority of India
Operator:Airports Authority of India
City-Served:Andhra Pradesh Capital Region
Location:Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation-F:82
Elevation-M:25
Website:Vijayawada Airport
R1-Number:08/26
R1-Length-F:11000
R1-Length-M:3360
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:April 2023 - March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:1,062,506 (9.9%)
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:15,214 (4.3%)
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:810 (36.5%)
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]

Vijayawada Airport,, officially known as Vijayawada International Airport,[4] [5] is an international airport serving the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region, Andhra Pradesh, India.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] The airport is located at Gannavaram, where National Highway 16 connecting Chennai to Kolkata passes through. The Government of India granted international status to the airport on 3 May 2017.[11]

History

The airfield located at Gannavaram served as an army base during the World War II, after which it was converted into a civilian airport. Air Deccan introduced a daily service between Hyderabad and Vijayawada in September 2003.[12] Until 2011, the airport had only four flights a day operated by Kingfisher Airlines.[13] In 2011, flag carrier Air India and private airlines Spicejet and Jet Airways introduced direct flights to the airport, but the latter terminated its service. Air Costa, a regional airline started operations in October 2013, with Vijayawada as its operational hub, which later suspended services.

To cater to the increasing passenger traffic, the foundation stone for a new interim terminal building was laid in October 2015.[14] The terminal, designed to handle two million passengers per annum was opened on 12 January 2017. It was expected to be sufficient for passenger needs for the next four-five years until a larger integrated terminal was built.[15] After domestic operations were shifted to the interim terminal, the old airport terminal building was closed and was prepared to handle international services. The terminal was equipped with a customs and immigration section and additional facilities and security arrangements.[16]

The Central Government granted international status to the airport on 3 May 2017.[17] However, it was only after the state government offered viability gap funding (VGF) to airlines for operating international flights, that private operator IndiGo bid for the contract to operate two flights a week to Singapore.[18]

On 4 December 2018, Indigo flight 6E 33 departed for Singapore Changi Airport,[19] marking the inaugural international flight for Vijayawada and getting an international footprint for Vijayawada.[20] The flight was terminated in July 2019 after the six-month VGF agreement lapsed and the state government refused to extend the agreement.[21]

Facilities

Structure

The airport is spread over 1265 acres. Initially, it was spread over 567, and later 698 acres were pooled from adjoining villages. It has 24 parking bays for A320, B737, ATR-72, and Bombardier Q400.[22]

Runways

The airport has one runway:

The airport's runway has been expanded to 3360m from 2270m. It can now handle wide body aircraft like Boeing 747, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, Airbus A340 and Airbus A350.[23]

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 baggage pick up area. The lounge is spread over 3,613 square metres. The terminal can handle up to 500 passengers at a time and has 18 check-in counters.[24]

Transport

Vijayawada Airport is located on National Highway 16 which connects Chennai to Kolkata and APSRTC runs AIRPORT Liner City Bus from PNBS, and the airport cab services, Ola Cabs, Uber, Rapido services are available to explore the city and as well as to reach Vijayawada Junction, Pandit Nehru Bus Station, and all major parts of the city and the state.

Expansion

A brand new integrated terminal building is under construction ever since its foundation stone was laid by the then Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on 4 December 2018. The 35,000m² (376,700 ft²) steel and glass structure is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of ₹ 611 crores (US$86 million). The new terminal is being designed for peak daily handling of 1,200 (600 domestic and 400 international) passengers, with 24 check-in counters, five conveyor belts, 14 immigration counters, three customs counters, and eight gates and six aerobridges, which can accommodate large widebody aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 747. The new terminal's parking facilities will accommodate an additional 1,250 automobiles.[25] [26] As of July 2024, 48.5% work on the new terminal has been completed and it is expected to be completed by June 2025.[27]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Statistics

Year! colspan="2"
Domestic Passenger trafficDomestic Aircraft movement
PassengersPercent
change		Aircraft
movements		Percent
change
2023–241,025,734[28] 14,934[29]
2022–23929,765[30] 14,300[31]
2021–22579,111[32] 8,833[33]
2020–21434,737[34] 6,863[35]
2019–201,125,551[36] 15,190[37]
2018–191,178,559[38] 18,957[39]
2017–18746,392[40] 11,999[41]
2016–17622,354[42] 10,333[43]
2015–16398,643[44] 6,676[45]
2014–15231,931NA4,639NA

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Vijayawada Airport . . 29 October 2023.
  5. Web site: Vijayawada Airport - Tender . . 29 October 2023.
  6. News: Vijayawada airport flies high. . 29 July 2020. "We are ensuring smooth operations though we have only one team each for customs, immigration, medical and airport staff.". 14 October 2020. 17 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201017215017/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/vijayawada-airport-flies-high/article32225319.ece. live.
  7. News: Sarma. Ch. R. S.. 12 January 2017. Gannavaram airport named after Amaravati. The Hindu Business Line. 15 January 2017. 5 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405174832/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/gannavaram-airport-named-after-amaravati/article9475939.ece. live.
  8. News: PM to inaugurate new terminal building at Vijayawada airport on January 12. 15 January 2017. The New Indian Express. 16 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172510/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2016/dec/08/pm-to-inaugurate-new-terminal-building-at-vijayawada-airport-on-january-12-1547042.html. live.
  9. Web site: 4 December 2020. List of Airports. 4 December 2020. Airports Authority of India. 12 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210212185132/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/basic_page_files/list%20of%20airport%20bilingual.pdf. live.
  10. News: Dangwal . Sandhya . 4 May 2017 . Vijayawada Airport upgraded as international airport; to improve connectivity, cargo movement . en . India.com . live . 9 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041939/https://www.india.com/business/vijayawada-airport-upgraded-as-international-airport-to-improve-connectivity-cargo-movement-2096395/ . 21 December 2018.
  11. News: Cabinet grants international status to Vijayawada airport . Hindustan Times . PTI . 3 May 2017 . 6 December 2023.
  12. News: One more flight for Vijayawada. https://archive.today/20140918073541/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/23/stories/2005112320860100.htm. dead. 18 September 2014. The Hindu. 23 November 2005. 18 September 2014.
  13. News: Another pvt airliner to operate from Gannavaram. https://archive.today/20130126082003/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-14/india/28688081_1_jet-airways-flight-flight-operators-gannavaram. dead. 26 January 2013. The Times of India. 14 March 2011.
  14. News: Foundation stone of Vijayawada airport's new terminal laid . . PTI . 19 October 2015 . 12 January 2017 . 13 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180813212130/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/49456017.cms . live.
  15. News: Naidu opens new transit terminal at Vijayawada airport . . 12 January 2017 . 5 October 2019 . 5 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191005181559/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120117/naidu-opens-new-transit-terminal-at-vijayawada-airport.html . live .
  16. News: Old airport terminal readying for international operations . . 24 June 2017 . 5 October 2019 . 12 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023152/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/old-airport-terminal-readying-for-international-operations/article19137391.ece . live .
  17. News: Cabinet approves Vijayawada Airport as International Airport . . 3 May 2017 . 5 October 2019 . 5 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191005181618/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx%3Frelid%3D161495 . live .
  18. News: Vijayawada airport gets international status, first flight takes off to Singapore . . 5 December 2019 . 5 October 2019 . 2 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402152545/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vijayawada-airport-gets-international-status-first-flight-takes-singapore-92774 . live .
  19. Web site: With First Flight To Singapore, Vijayawada Enters Global Aviation Map. NDTV.com. 12 December 2018. 15 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173128/https://www.ndtv.com/andhra-pradesh-news/with-first-flight-to-singapore-vijayawada-enters-global-aviation-map-1957836. live.
  20. News: Vijayawada to Singapore IndiGo flights from Dec 4 . 24 October 2018 . @businessline . en . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185321/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/vijayawada-to-singapore-indigo-flights-from-dec-4/article25312950.ece . live .
  21. News: Vijayawada-Singapore directflight service dropped . . 2 July 2019 . 5 October 2019 . 7 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233318/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/vijayawada-singapore-direct-flight-service-dropped/article28255086.ece . live .
  22. News: Vijayawada airport now has 16 Parking Bays. 23 March 2020. The Hindu. 23 March 2016. 23 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200323150602/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/gannavaram-airport-to-have-16-parking-bays/article8387973.ece/amp/. live.
  23. News: Vijayawada airport now ready for wide-body aircraft operations . 23 March 2020 . The Economic Times . PTI . 12 February 2019 . 3 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200303155617/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/vijayawada-airport-now-read-for-wide-body-aircraft-operations/articleshow/67959083.cms . live .
  24. News: New airport terminal to be opened on Jan 12. The Hindu. 12 January 2017. 12 January 2017. 20 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920060135/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/New-airport-terminal-to-be-opened-on-Jan.-12/article16979742.ece. live.
  25. News: Murthy . Sistla Dakshina . 17 May 2022 . New terminal works at VJA airport at brisk pace, inauguration by year-end . The New Indian Express . 8 July 2022.
  26. News: ANI. 5 December 2018. Vijayawada AirPort to get integrated terminal building. Business Standard India. 24 May 2020. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184214/https://wap.business-standard.com/article-amp/current-affairs/vijayawada-airport-to-get-modern-facilities-integrated-terminal-building-118120500124_1.html. live.
  27. News: Vijayawada airport likely to get new terminal building by June 2025, says Civil Aviation Minister . Financial Express . 26 July 2024 . 28 July 2024.
  28. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2024: Annexure-III .
  29. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2024: Annexure-II .
  30. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2023: Annexure-III .
  31. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2023: Annexure-II .
  32. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2022: Annexure-III .
  33. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2022: Annexure-II .
  34. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2021: Annexure-III .
  35. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2021: Annexure-II .
  36. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-III .
  37. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-II .
  38. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2019: Annexure-III . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216125227/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2K19Annex3.pdf. 16 December 2023 .
  39. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2019: Annexure-II .
  40. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2018: Annexure-III. Airports Authority of India. 5 May 2018. 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085210/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Dec2k16annex2.pdf. 4 February 2017. dead.
  41. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2018: Annexure-II . 5 May 2018 . Airports Authority of India . 2.
  42. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-III. Airports Authority of India. 24 May 2017. 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20170428052950/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Mar2k17annex3.pdf. 28 April 2017. dead.
  43. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-II. Airports Authority of India. 24 May 2017. 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20170428050942/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Mar2k17annex2.pdf. 28 April 2017. dead.
  44. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-III. Airports Authority of India. 5 May 2018. 2. 19 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180519060700/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k16annex3.pdf. live.
  45. Web site: Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-II. Airports Authority of India. 5 May 2018. 2. 1 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225746/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k16annex2.pdf. live.
  46. Web site: Accident description. Aviation Safety Network. 8 October 2009. 25 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025121536/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19800828-0. live.
  47. Web site: Air India Express Plane Hits Lighting Pole Landing at VGA | Airways Magazine . Airwaysmag.com . 22 February 2021 . 25 December 2021 . 12 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512230544/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/ix-plane-hits-pole-vga/ . live .
  48. Web site: Air India Express flight hits electric pole on landing at Vijayawada airport; all passengers safe. 20 February 2021 . 18 April 2023 .

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