Vijayawada Airport

Vijayawada Airport
IATA: VGA ICAO: VOBZ
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Airports Authority of India
Operator	Airports Authority of India
Serves	Vijayawada
Location	Gannavaram, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation  AMSL	82 ft / 25 m
Coordinates	16°31′44″N80°47′45″E / 16.52889°N 80.79583°E / 16.52889; 80.79583
Website	Vijayawada Airport
Map
VGA Show map of Andhra Pradesh VGA Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 08/26 11,000 3,360 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2022 - March 2023)
Passengers 966,383 ( 54.6%) Aircraft movements 14,593 ( 57.6%) Cargo tonnage 1,275 ( 43.7%)
Source: AAI [1] [2] [3]

Name board at airport

Vijayawada Airport, ( IATA : VGA, ICAO : VOBZ), officially known as Vijayawada International Airport, ^{[4] [5]} is an international airport serving the city of Vijayawada, 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] The airport is internationally connected to the Middle Eastern countries of United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait.

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]

Panorama of new terminal

Facilities

Structure

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

Runways

The airport has one runway:

• Runway 08/26: 3,360 by 45 metres (11,024 ft × 148 ft), ILS equipped

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]

• 
  Check-In area at the interim terminal
• 
  Domestic Departure Hall
• 
  Boarding Gates, Domestic Departure Hall
• 
  Interiors at Vijayawada Airport in 2020

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 May 2022, 20% work on the new terminal has been completed, ^[27] and the completed parts on the airport's expansion project includes the apron, the four-lane approach road and the runway expansion, which is expanded to 3,360 m and can handle larger aircraft. Initially, it was planned to complete the new terminal by August 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which faced delays in work, it is now expected to be completed by the end of 2023. ^[25]

The state government has yet to fulfill its commitment of Rs. 470 crores for the ongoing construction projects at Gannavaram Airport. Despite the initially proposed completion deadline of 2022, the work remains unfinished even by the end of 2023 ^[28]

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 May 2022, 20% work on the new terminal has been completed, ^[27] and the completed parts on the airport's expansion project includes the apron, the four-lane approach road and the runway expansion, which is expanded to 3,360 m and can handle larger aircraft. Initially, it was planned to complete the new terminal by August 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which faced delays in work, it is now expected to be completed by the end of 2024. ^[25]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Air India	Delhi
Air India Express	Hyderabad (begins 2 April 2024), Sharjah
Alliance Air	Bangalore, Hyderabad
IndiGo	Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kadapa, Shirdi, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at VGA airport. See Wikidata query.

Annual passenger traffic and aircraft movements at Vijayawada Airport

Year	Passenger traffic		Aircraft movement
	Passengers	Percent change	Aircraft movements	Percent change
2018–19	1,192,000	+59.7%	22,630	+88.6%
2017–18	746,392 [29]	+19.9%	11,999 [30]	+16.1%
2016–17	622,354 [31]	+56.1%	10,333 [32]	+54.8%
2015–16	398,643 [33]	+71.9%	6,676 [34]	+43.9%
2014–15	231,931 [33]	NA	4,639 [34]	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. ^[35]

• On 20 February 2021, an Air India Express aircraft was involved in ground incident, the aircraft wing impacted a floodlight pole while taxiing. No injuries were reported. ^{[36] [37]}

See also

• Bhogapuram Airport
• Visakhapatnam Airport

References

1. "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
2. "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
3. "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
4. "Vijayawada Airport". Airports Authority of India . Retrieved 29 October 2023.
5. "Vijayawada Airport - Tender" (PDF). Airports Authority of India . Retrieved 29 October 2023.
6. "Vijayawada airport flies high". The Hindu . 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020. We are ensuring smooth operations though we have only one team each for customs, immigration, medical and airport staff.
7. Sarma, Ch. R. S. (12 January 2017). "Gannavaram airport named after Amaravati". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
8. "PM to inaugurate new terminal building at Vijayawada airport on January 12". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
9. "List of Airports" (PDF). Airports Authority of India . 4 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
10. Dangwal, Sandhya (4 May 2017). "Vijayawada Airport upgraded as international airport; to improve connectivity, cargo movement". India.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
11. "Cabinet grants international status to Vijayawada airport". Hindustan Times. PTI. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
12. "One more flight for Vijayawada". The Hindu . 23 November 2005. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
13. "Another pvt airliner to operate from Gannavaram". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
14. "Foundation stone of Vijayawada airport's new terminal laid". The Economic Times . PTI. 19 October 2015. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
15. "Naidu opens new transit terminal at Vijayawada airport". Deccan Chronicle . 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
16. "Old airport terminal readying for international operations". The Hindu . 24 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
17. "Cabinet approves Vijayawada Airport as International Airport". Press Information Bureau . 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
18. "Vijayawada airport gets international status, first flight takes off to Singapore". The News Minute . 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
19. "With First Flight To Singapore, Vijayawada Enters Global Aviation Map". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
20. "Vijayawada to Singapore IndiGo flights from Dec 4". @businessline. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
21. "Vijayawada-Singapore directflight service dropped". The Hindu . 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
22. "Vijayawada airport now has 16 Parking Bays". The Hindu. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
23. "Vijayawada airport now ready for wide-body aircraft operations". The Economic Times. PTI. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
24. "New airport terminal to be opened on Jan 12". The Hindu . 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
25. Murthy, Sistla Dakshina (17 May 2022). "New terminal works at VJA airport at brisk pace, inauguration by year-end". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
26. "Vijayawada AirPort to get integrated terminal building". Business Standard India. ANI. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
27. Boda, Tharun (26 May 2022). "20% work on new integrated terminal completed at Vijayawada airport". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 8 July 2022.
28. "కట్టేది లేదు.. కష్టపెట్టుడే." Eenadu (in Telugu). 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
29. "Traffic News for the month of March 2018: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
30. "Traffic News for the month of March 2018: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
31. "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
32. "Traffic News for the month of March 2017: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
33. "Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
34. "Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
35. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
36. "Air India Express Plane Hits Lighting Pole Landing at VGA | Airways Magazine". Airwaysmag.com. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
37. "Air India Express flight hits electric pole on landing at Vijayawada airport; all passengers safe". 20 February 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

External links

• Vijayawada Airport at Airports Authority of India website.