Vijayawada Airport

Vijayawada Airport (IATA: VGA, ICAO: VOBZ) is an international airport serving Andhra Pradesh Capital Region.[4][5][6][7] The airport has been granted to operate international flights,[8] however currently there are no scheduled international flights. The airport is located at Gannavaram in Vijayawada, where National Highway 16 connecting Chennai to Kolkata passes through.

Vijayawada Airport
Vijayawada Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerAAI
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesAndhra Pradesh Capital Region
LocationGannavaram, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Elevation AMSL82 ft / 25 m
Coordinates16°31′44″N 80°47′45″E
Websitewww.aai.aero
Map
VGA
VGA
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08/26 11,000 3,360 Asphalt
Statistics (Apr 2019– Mar 2020)
Passenger movements1,130,583(4.6%)
Aircraft movements15,242 (19.9%)
Cargo tonnage2,129(457.3%)
Source: AAI[1][2] [3]
Name board at airport

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.[9] Until 2011, the airport had only four flights a day operated by Kingfisher Airlines.[10] 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.[11] 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 terminal was built.[12] 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.[13]

The Central Government granted international status to the airport in May 2017.[14] 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.

[15] On 4 December 2018, Indigo flight 6E 33 departed for Singapore Changi Airport,[16] marking the inaugural international flight for Vijayawada and getting an international footprint for Vijayawada.[17] The flight was terminated in July 2019 after the six-month VGF agreement lapsed and the state government refused to extend the agreement.[18]

Panorama of new terminal

Facilities

Structure

The airport is spread over 567 acres. It has 16 parking bays for A320, B737, ATR-72, and Bombardier Q400.[19]

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 all wide body aircraft like B747, B777, B787, A330, A340 and A350.[20]

Terminals

The interim terminal and the ceremonial lounge spread over 12,999 square metres includes 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.[21]

  • Interim Terminal (Domestic)
  • Check-In area in the interim terminal
  • Domestic Departures at Vijayawada Airport
  • Boarding Gates, Domestic Departures
  • Interiors at Vijayawada Airport

Expansion

The construction of the new integrated terminal building had been started with the foundation stone laid by then honorable Central Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on 4 December 2018. The 35,000m² (376,700 ft²) steel and glass structrue is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at an estimated cost of INR 611 crores (US$86m). The new terminal is being designed for peak daily handling of 1,200 passengers, with 24 check-in counters, 14 immigration counters, three customs counters, and eight gates. The terminal expansion parking facilities will accommodate an additional 1,250 automobiles.The new integrated terminal will be equipped with five baggage conveyor belts.[22] [23]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Air India Delhi, Hyderabad[24]
Air India ExpressMumbai[25]
Alliance AirHyderabad, Visakhapatnam[26]
IndiGoBangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam,[27] Mumbai[28]
SpiceJetBangalore, Hyderabad, Puducherry[29]
TruJetHyderabad, Kadapa[30]

Statistics
Annual passenger traffic and aircraft movements at Vijayawada Airport
Year Passenger traffic Aircraft movement
Passengers Percent
change		 Aircraft
movements		 Percent
change
2018-2019 1,192,000 +59.7% 22,630 +88.6%
2017–18 746,392[31] +19.9% 11,999[32] +16.1%
2016–17 622,354[33] +56.1% 10,333[34] +54.8%
2015–16 398,643[35] +71.9% 6,676[36] +43.9%
2014–15 231,931[35] NA 4,639[36] 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.[37]

References
  1. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 22 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. "Traffic News for the month of March 2020: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 22 May 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "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}}
  4. "Vijayawada airport flies high". The Hindu. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020. We are ensuring smooth operations though we have only one team each for customs, immigration, medical and airport staff.
  5. Sarma, Ch. R. S. (12 January 2017). "Gannavaram airport named after Amaravati". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  6. "PM to inaugurate new terminal building at Vijayawada airport on January 12". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. "List of Airports" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. 04-12-2020. Retrieved 04-12-2020. Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  8. Dangwal, Sandhya (4 May 2017). "Vijayawada Airport upgraded as international airport; to improve connectivity, cargo movement". India.com. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  9. "One more flight for Vijayawada". The Hindu. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  10. "Another pvt airliner to operate from Gannavaram". Times of India. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  11. "Foundation stone of Vijayawada airport's new terminal laid". The Economic Times. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  12. "Naidu opens new transit terminal at Vijayawada airport". Deccan Chronicle. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  13. "Old airport terminal readying for international operations". The Hindu. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  14. "Cabinet approves Vijayawada Airport as International Airport". Press Information Bureau. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  15. "Vijayawada airport gets international status, first flight takes off to Singapore". The News Minute. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  16. "With First Flight To Singapore, Vijayawada Enters Global Aviation Map". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  17. "Vijayawada to Singapore IndiGo flights from Dec 4". @businessline. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  18. "Vijayawada-Singapore directflight service dropped". The Hindu. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  19. "Vijayawada airport now has 16 Parking Bays". The Hindu. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  20. "Vijayawada airport now ready for wide-body aircraft operations". The Economic Times. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  21. "New airport terminal to be opened on Jan 12". The Hindu. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  22. "Vijayawada AirPort gets international status, first flight takes off to Singapore". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  23. "Vijayawada AirPort to get integrated terminal building". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  24. "Air India Timetable". Air India. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  25. "Air India Express connects Vijayawada and Mumbai". The Hindu Business Line. 19 January 2018.
  26. "Air India & Alliance Air Timetable". Air India. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  27. "Indigo adds two more flight services from Vijayawada".
  28. "Indigo starting services to Mumbai from Vijayawada". Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  29. "SpiceJet's Flights Schedule and Information for domestic and international flights". spicejet.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  30. "ROUTE MAP". www.trujet.com. December 2018.
  31. "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.
  32. "Traffic News for the month of March 2018: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  33. "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.
  34. "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.
  35. "Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-III" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  36. "Traffic News for the month of March 2016: Annexure-II" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  37. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.

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