Passenger traffic at the four main airports in Andhra Pradesh witnessed a mixed FY24. While two of the 4 major airports in the state recorded a growth in its total passengers handled the other two saw a decline in their passengers handled compared to FY23.
Vizag and Vijayawada the two big airports in Andhra Pradesh had a relatively good fiscal in terms of passengers handled with Vizag recording a growth of 11.8% while Vijayawada saw a growth of 10.3%.
‘Flights are going absolutely full to all metro destinations. We are seeing above 90% occupancy rates in most of our flights’ said Vizag’s airport director Mr Raja Reddy speaking to Vizag Industrial Scan.
Vizag airport would have recorded its highest number of passengers handled if not been for the runway works which had to be carried out for a few months.
‘We would have easily crossed our previous best (recorded in FY19) but for the runway upgradation works which had to be undertaken’ noted the director.
Having been in service for more than 15 years the runway at the airport was due for upgradation which was executed by the Indian Navy. The airport resumed round the clock operations from April 1st 2024.
Vizag airport operates about 56 domestic flights (arrivals & departure) daily and is also connected to 3 international destinations i.e. Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
‘We now need a direct flight to Dubai also’ opined Mr Raja Reddy. Coming to Vijayawada the airport here too touched its pre covid levels and saw a growth in its passenger traffic.
The airport witnesses 46 aircraft movements a day and also has a weekly flight (twice in a week) to Sharjah.
A new morning direct flight i.e. 737-800 to Hyderabad has been introduced to cater to the working professionals. On the other hand, Tirupati and Rajahmundry airport saw a drop in their numbers compared to fiscal year 23.
‘Due to less number of flights in FY 2024 we saw a slight decline in our passenger traffic’ said Mr S Gnaneswara Rao, Rajahmundry’s airport director. The airport operates 18 flights a day and is connected to Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore.
It is also counting on a weekly flight to Delhi from the next winter schedule. Tirupati airport which doses about 30 aircraft movements a day too saw a marginal decline in passenger traffic.
The Airport recently extended its runway from 2286 meters to 3810 meters which will soon be commissioned. It was informed that with the extension of the runway type E aircrafts will be able to land in the temple town.
