The first Air India flight successfully landed at Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district on Sunday morning, January 4, 2026. Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu, and several VIPs were onboard. The flight touched down around 11:10 a.m., greeted by a grand water cannon welcome. Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy, Joint Collector Sedhu Madhavan, GMR Group officials, and public representatives welcomed the arrivals on the 3.8 km long runway. The mood was upbeat after the successful commercial validation flight. Union Minister Rammohan Naidu called the day historic for the aviation sector. He said, "It was a historic day in the aviation sector," and expressed hope that the new airport would boost economic activity across North Andhra. He is confident the GMR Group will meet the full operational deadline of June 30, 2026. To improve access, the government is widening roads around the airport to ensure smooth travel for passengers from Visakhapatnam and nearby areas. GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) is building the airport on 2,200 acres at a cost of ₹4,725 crores. Work began in 2014, and now 96% of construction is done, said GMR Group Deputy Managing Director I. Prabhakara Rao. He confirmed that the airport can handle 200 flights daily and park 18 planes overnight. The facility will have 18 immigration counters to ensure quick services. The group expects 33% of passengers to come from Visakhapatnam district, with the remaining 67% from North Andhra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and other regions. The airport can handle 20,000 tonnes of cargo annually. A large cargo terminal is being developed to export bulk drugs, agricultural products, marine items, and more. Operations are set to begin within six months, marking a big leap for the region's connectivity and economy.