Bhogapuram Airport to Get First Validation Flight Today
The validation flight will assess navigation systems, runway readiness and overall operational preparedness of the airport.
Visakhapatnam:Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport will receive its first validation flight on Sunday, January 4, marking a key step towards the commencement of commercial operations.
An Air India flight will arrive from Delhi with Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on board, along with senior officials from the Airports Authority of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The validation flight will assess navigation systems, runway readiness and overall operational preparedness of the airport. It will also mark the first use of the airport’s 3.8-kilometre runway, designed to accommodate large aircraft and long-haul flights.
Officials said nearly 95 per cent of construction has been completed, including terminal buildings, air traffic control facilities, cargo and logistics infrastructure, with only minor works remaining. Commercial operations are expected to begin by June 2026, with full passenger services from August 2026.
The airport is being developed by the GMR Group on 2,200 acres at an estimated cost of ₹4,592 crore under a public-private partnership model. Designed to handle six million passengers annually in its first phase, the facility is expandable to 18 million passengers.
The terminal aims for a LEED gold rating, features paperless entry through facial recognition, and will be supported by new road corridors to improve regional connectivity.
Passengers will experience paperless entry through facial recognition technology and direct aircraft boarding via more than 10 modern aerobridges, amenities typically found in major international airports.
A large cargo terminal with cold storage will support exports of Manyam coffee and other agricultural produce. An Aviation Education City is also being developed on 136 acres adjacent to the airport.
Three major transportation corridors are being developed to ensure convenient access from across North Andhra, which includes a 76-kilometer dedicated Airport Express corridor from Visakhapatnam city, enabling 45-55 minute travel times, a 6-lane road with approach roads and flyovers connecting directly from NH-16, and a scenic 48-kilometer beach corridor along the coastline from Visakhapatnam Port through Bheemili
