The announcement that Scoot Airlines will commence operations from the new airport on its opening day has generated considerable excitement among frequent flyers and business circles in Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association (APATA) president K. Kumar Raja described the shift as a significant milestone that could accelerate the region’s economic growth. Recalling earlier efforts that helped establish direct air links to destinations such as Singapore, Dubai, Colombo, Malaysia and Bangkok, he said the new airport infrastructure offers a strong opportunity to revive Visakhapatnam’s international aviation presence.
Even as passengers welcomed the transition to the new airport, industry stakeholders flagged concerns over the absence of dedicated cargo infrastructure. APATA vice-president D.S. Varma pointed out that more than 150 pharmaceutical companies in the region currently transport export consignments by road to Chennai and Hyderabad airports. He urged GMR to establish a dedicated cargo terminal at the earliest so that exports can be handled directly from Visakhapatnam, reducing logistics costs as well as the carbon footprint.
Air travellers are also looking forward to the restoration of key international routes. Direct services to Colombo, Malaysia and Bangkok, which had operated successfully in the past, were discontinued mainly because of naval restrictions at the existing airport.
Association secretary O. Naresh Kumar urged the airport operator to engage proactively with airlines to revive these routes. He said that, together with the existing connections to Abu Dhabi and Singapore, the addition of these services would give the city five strong international links and help position Visakhapatnam as an important transit hub.
Travel groups also expressed concern over the decline in domestic flight movements, which have come down from a peak of 88 movements per day at the old airport to around 60 at present. Mr. Kumar Raja said the association expects the modern infrastructure at the new GMR airport to help increase the number beyond 90 daily movements and restore the city’s aviation momentum.
To ensure smoother connectivity to the new airport, flyers have urged the State government and airport operator to work with app-based cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola. The association proposed a fixed-fare arrangement to ensure transparency in pricing, prevent surge fares and reduce travel delays. It also recommended setting up a dedicated pickup zone for app-based taxis at the terminal to avoid congestion.
Mr. Naresh Kumar also called upon the government to expedite the proposed coastal corridor works within a month to improve access to the airport. He further suggested the introduction of dedicated electric feeder buses, establishment of six passenger lounges across the city and integration of real-time bus arrival information at the terminal to promote green mobility and improve passenger convenience.