The airfield located at Gannavaram served as an army base during the World War II, after which it was converted into a civilian airport. Air Deccan introduced a daily service between Hyderabad and Vijayawada in September 2003. Until 2011, the airport had only four flights a day operated by Kingfisher Airlines. In 2011, flag carrierAir India and private airlines Spicejet and Jet Airways introduced direct flights to the airport, but the latter terminated its service. Air Costa, a regional airline started operations in October 2013, with Vijayawada as its operational hub, which later suspended services. To cater to the increasing passenger traffic, the foundation stone for a new interim terminal building was laid in October 2015. The terminal, designed to handle two million passengers per annum was opened on 12 January 2017. It was expected to be sufficient for passenger needs for the next four-five years until a larger terminal was built. After domestic operations were shifted to the interim terminal, the old airport terminal building was closed and was prepared to handle international services. The terminal was equipped with a customs and immigration section and additional facilities and security arrangements. The Central Government granted international status to the airport in May 2017. However, it was only after the state government offered viability gap funding to airlines for operating international flights, that private operator IndiGo bid for the contract to operate two flights a week to Singapore. On 4 December 2018, Indigo flight 6E 33 departed for Singapore Changi Airport, marking the inaugural international flight for Vijayawada and getting an international footprint for Vijayawada. The flight was terminated in July 2019 after the six-month VGF agreement lapsed and the state government refused to extend the agreement.
Facilities
Structure
The airport is spread over 567 acres. It has 16 parking bays for A320, B737, ATR-72, and Bombardier Q400.
The interim terminal and the ceremonial lounge spread over 12,999 square metres includes check-in area, arrival hall, meet and greet service staircase, aviation lounge, and baggage pick up area. The lounge is spread over 3,613 square metres. The terminal can handle up to 500 passengers at a time and has 18 check-in counters.
Expansion
The construction of the new integrated terminal building had been started with the foundation stone laid by then honorable Central Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and Vice PresidentVenkaiah Naidu on 4 December 2018. The 35,000m² steel and glass structrue is being developed by the Airports Authority of India at an estimated cost of INR 611 crores. The new terminal is being designed for peak daily handling of 1,200 passengers, with 24 check-in counters, 14 immigration counters, three customs counters, and eight gates. The terminal expansion parking facilities will accommodate an additional 1,250 automobiles.The new integrated terminal will be equipped with five baggage conveyor belts.
Airlines and destinations
Statistics
Accidents and incidents
On 28 August 1980, Vickers Viscount VT-DJC of Huns Air was damaged beyond economic repair when the nosewheel collapsed after the aircraft bounced three times on landing.
