Key takeaways
- Ceremonial opening date: Saturday, 1 August 2026 (PM Narendra Modi).
- Passenger opening date: Sunday, 17 August 2026 (first scheduled flights).
- You could not board a scheduled commercial flight on inauguration day.
- The year is 2026 — see also “started in which year”.
- The airport is open now; bookings use VTZ.
Bhogapuram airport opening date is 1 August 2026 for the inauguration and 17 August 2026 for flights. Search results mix those two events. If you are travelling, remember the later date: scheduled commercial flights started on Sunday, 17 August 2026.
| Inauguration | Saturday, 1 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated by | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Commercial flights | Sunday, 17 August 2026 |
| VTZ code transfer | 12:01 am, 17 August 2026 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Status today | Open — scheduled flights operating |
Why are there two Bhogapuram airport opening dates?
Indian greenfield airports are often inaugurated weeks before the first passenger departure. Ministers cut the ribbon once the terminal is ready; airlines, DGCA licensing, baggage systems and the IATA code switch follow a separate operational calendar. Bhogapuram followed that pattern.
Opening date 1: 1 August 2026 (inauguration)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram on Saturday, 1 August 2026. The programme included a terminal walkthrough, a public meeting, and the dedication of Andhra Pradesh development projects worth over ₹17,900 crore. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu attended.
Minute-by-minute running order: PM Modi inaugurates ASR International Airport.
Opening date 2: 17 August 2026 (flights)
Scheduled commercial operations began on Sunday, 17 August 2026. At 12:01 am the IATA code VTZ transferred from INS Dega. The last scheduled flight from the old Visakhapatnam airport was IndiGo 6E 2018 to Delhi at 10:45 pm on 16 August. The first arrival at Bhogapuram was IndiGo 6E 6408 from Hyderabad.
More on that service: Bhogapuram airport first flight.
Which opening date should you quote?
- Travellers and tickets: 17 August 2026.
- Ceremonial / political history: 1 August 2026.
- “When did it start this year?”: 2026, with flights from 17 August.
- “Is it open right now?”: Yes.
Short opening timeline
| Date | What opened |
|---|---|
| 4 January 2026 | Validation flight (licensing, not passengers) |
| July 2026 | DGCA aerodrome licence and BCAS clearances |
| 1 August 2026 | Public inauguration by the Prime Minister |
| 16 August 2026, 10:45 pm | Last scheduled departure from INS Dega |
| 17 August 2026, 12:01 am | VTZ transfers; commercial flights begin at Bhogapuram |
Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bhogapuram Airport, answered concisely.
1 August 2026 for the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and 17 August 2026 for the start of scheduled commercial flights. For travellers, 17 August 2026 is the date that matters.
Sunday, 17 August 2026. The first arrival was IndiGo 6E 6408 from Hyderabad. The IATA code VTZ transferred at 12:01 am that day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport on Saturday, 1 August 2026, with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other dignitaries present.
No. 1 August was a ceremonial inauguration. Scheduled passenger flights started sixteen days later, on 17 August 2026.
Yes. Commercial operations have been running since 17 August 2026. See our status page: Is Bhogapuram airport started?
Keep reading
Planning a move, a trip or an investment in Bhogapuram?
Tell us what you need — property, a place to stay, or airport travel help — and we'll point you to the right local contacts.