Bhogapuram airport nears operations, trial flight on January 4
The Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport, a flagship project of Andhra Pradesh, is all set to achieve a major milestone with the landing of its first commercial aircraft on January 4 as part of a final trial run.
The airport, named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, is being developed as an integrated aviation and logistics hub and is expected to boost connectivity and economic activity across North Andhra.
An Air India flight from Delhi, carrying Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, is scheduled to land at the airport around 11 a.m. on January 4.
Officials said a successful trial run would pave the way for talks with other airlines to begin regular flight services from May. The airport is designed to handle 2,500 passengers per hour and will feature paperless entry through facial recognition.
With over 91.7% of construction completed by December 2025, the airport is expected to be inaugurated by June 2026. The project involves an initial investment of about Rs 4,592 crore and is expected to position Bhogapuram as a key growth driver for Andhra Pradesh.