The new terminal of Vijayawada International Airport at Gannavaram is expected to be ready by October and inaugurated within days of its completion, Airport Director M. Lakshmi Kantha Reddy said on Friday.

Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by AP Chambers at its Vijayawada office, Mr. Reddy said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) awarded the contract for the project to a new contractor in June and the new terminal will feature multi-level operations, six aerobridges, escalators, state-of-the-art technology and upgraded passenger amenities. “It will also have provisions for future expansion,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said the Vijayawada airport currently handles 22 flights and around 2,000 passengers a day, while its parking capacity is 26 aircraft. The airport is connected to several major domestic destinations and has international services to Singapore and Sharjah three times a week.

He said Fly91 is set to introduce morning flights between Vijayawada and Tirupati, which would benefit devotees travelling to the temple town.

Hub-and-spoke model

On international connectivity, Mr. Reddy said direct flights to Dubai would be particularly beneficial for passengers travelling onwards to Europe and America. A hub-and-spoke model could also be introduced once the new terminal becomes operational, he said.

Under the proposed model, international passengers would be able to complete security and baggage check-in procedures at Vijayawada airport itself, making onward international travel more convenient, he said.

On cargo infrastructure, he said the long-term plan is to establish an exclusive integrated cargo terminal at the airport. Until a dedicated facility is built, the existing terminal could be converted for cargo operations, he added.

AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskara Rao said the Chamber had been working for the development of Vijayawada airport for several years, considering infrastructure development integral to industrial growth. The Chamber has also been periodically submitting suggestions for improving airport facilities and connectivity, he said.

Stating that there was strong demand among passengers for direct connectivity from Vijayawada to Dubai, as well as hub-and-spoke connectivity to major international destinations, Mr. Bhaskar Rao also called for convenient flight timings between Vijayawada and other cities in Andhra Pradesh.

He further suggested setting up a dedicated cold-storage cargo facility at the airport to facilitate the transportation of perishable products. The airport Director acknowledged the role played by AP Chambers in the development of Vijayawada airport over the years.

AP Chambers executive vice-president B. Raja Sekhar, general secretary Subbarao Ravuri and members representing various sectors attended the meeting.

Eom