AERA Approves Tariffs for Bhogapuram Airport as Civil Flights Prepare to Shift from Visakhapatnam

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has approved an ad hoc tariff structure for the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport, marking a major milestone ahead of the transition of commercial flight operations from Visakhapatnam Airport. According to the regulator’s order, all civilian flight services currently operating from the naval airfield at Visakhapatnam are expected to move to the new airport once it becomes operational, making Bhogapuram the primary commercial aviation gateway for North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Under the approved tariff framework, departing domestic passengers will pay a User Development Fee (UDF) of ₹835, while arriving domestic passengers will be charged ₹355. For international travellers, the UDF has been fixed at ₹1,255 for departures and ₹545 for arrivals. AERA said the ad hoc tariffs will take effect from the commercial operation date of the airport and remain in force until regular aeronautical tariffs are determined for the first control period. Certain categories of passengers, including children below two years of age, diplomats, transit passengers and airline crew on duty, will be exempt from the charges.

Developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited as a greenfield project, Bhogapuram International Airport is designed with an initial capacity to handle around six million passengers annually. The new facility is expected to ease capacity constraints faced at the existing Visakhapatnam Airport, which operates from the Indian Navy’s INS Dega airbase. Aviation industry stakeholders view the tariff approval as a key regulatory step paving the way for the airport’s commercial launch and the planned migration of airline operations to the new facility.