International air cargo operations resume at Vizag Airport
Visakhapatnam Airport has resumed its international air cargo operations, providing a significant boost to local industries that had relied on facilities in Hyderabad and Chennai during the pandemic.
During the CII Partnership Summit, the Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu announced, “International cargo services from Vizag, which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, are now back in operation.”
Currently, two international flights are operating—one to Singapore and the other to Abu Dhabi. Both routes have seen strong demand, with occupancy rates exceeding 90% on most days.
The return of these services is expected to benefit key industrial clusters in the city, including the Pharma Park, Textile Park, and units within the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ). Enhanced air cargo connectivity is anticipated to reduce logistics costs, shorten turnaround times, and enhance the region’s competitiveness in global trade.
Industry representatives have welcomed this development, calling it a “significant boost for exporters in the city” that will help streamline operations and lower costs. A textile trader emphasized that these air cargo services would support the growth of industrial zones and attract further investment.
Officials from the Andhra Pradesh Air Transport Association (APATA), including K. Kumar Raja, D. S. Varma, and O. Naresh Kumar, thanked lawmakers and aviation authorities for their support. “We appreciate our MP M Sribharat, who worked closely with Civil Aviation Minister to make this possible. We also look forward to the commencement of services from IndiGo and Singapore Airlines soon,” they stated.
The association urged air cargo handlers to fully utilize the new facility to strengthen Visakhapatnam’s position as a trade and logistics hub.