Vijayawada Airport (VGA) in 2026 — terminal, domestic and international connections, and the new-terminal wait
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma writes about Indian airport infrastructure, tier-2 and regional hubs, and the route networks of Indian carriers. He tracks AAI terminal projects, UDAN regional connectivity awards and the Gulf expansion of IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa for FlightGPT readers.) · Published · Last updated · 10 min read
Vijayawada at Gannavaram is the air gateway to central Andhra Pradesh and the Amaravati region — an international airport with a Singapore link, a long-awaited new terminal, and a thickening domestic map. Here's the grounded 2026 guide.
Quick answer
Vijayawada Airport (IATA VGA, ICAO VOBZ) sits at Gannavaram, about 13 km northeast of Vijayawada and around 41 km from Amaravati, in Andhra Pradesh. It's an international airport — its first international flight, to Singapore, launched back in 2018. As of 2026 the international map is small but real: Singapore (IndiGo) and a Sharjah link, with the domestic network the main story (Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and more across IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa, Star Air and Fly91). A larger integrated terminal has been under construction for years but, as of early 2026, had not opened. Verify the live schedule on the AAI/airport site before booking.
Why Vijayawada matters
Vijayawada is one of Andhra Pradesh's biggest commercial cities and sits at the heart of the state — close to the Amaravati capital region and well-placed for the Krishna delta, Guntur and the wider coastal belt. After the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with Hyderabad falling in Telangana, Vijayawada's strategic importance as an Andhra air gateway rose sharply. Gannavaram is the practical airport for a large slice of central and coastal AP.
The airport is run by AAI. It earned international-airport status and ran its inaugural international flight (Vijayawada-Singapore, IndiGo) in December 2018. Since then the domestic network has steadily thickened as Andhra's economy and the Amaravati project have drawn traffic.
The terminal — and the new-terminal saga
As of 2026, VGA still operates primarily through its existing integrated terminal, designed for a modest peak load. It's a compact facility: check-in counters, CISF security, basic airside food and retail, and the immigration/customs setup needed for the international flights. It does the job for current volumes but feels tight at peak banks.
The big story is the new integrated terminal — a roughly 35,000 m² steel-and-glass building being developed by AAI at a cost reported around ₹600+ crore. It's designed for far higher peak handling (with separate domestic and international capacity), more check-in counters, multiple baggage belts, several aerobridges and the ability to handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777. The project has, however, faced repeated delays and contractor issues, and as of early 2026 was still not open. Treat any opening date you read as provisional and check the airport's official updates.
Domestic network — who flies where
The domestic schedule is where VGA is busiest. As of 2026 the carrier mix is unusually broad for a tier-2 airport, spanning IndiGo, Air India / Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air and the regional carrier Fly91. Typical non-stop domestic links include:
- Hyderabad — the closest metro, high frequency.
- Bengaluru, Chennai — strong south-India business links.
- Mumbai, Delhi — the metro trunks, served by IndiGo and Air India.
- Regional points such as Cuddapah (Kadapa) and other AP/RCS city pairs, plus seasonal additions.
This breadth means competitive fares on the busy pairs — worth comparing on FlightGPT. For how the different fare buckets compare across carriers, see our guide to IndiGo vs Air India fare families.
International flights — small but real
Vijayawada's international footprint is modest and has fluctuated over the years, but as of 2026 includes:
- Singapore (SIN) — the long-standing flagship, operated by IndiGo; this is VGA's longest route at roughly 4.5 hours.
- Sharjah (SHJ) — a Gulf link reflecting Andhra's migrant-worker community; carrier and frequency have varied, so confirm current operations.
International routes from tier-2 airports like VGA are sensitive to demand and aircraft availability — they get added, paused and resumed. Before booking a non-refundable onward connection or hotel, verify the flight is actually operating for your dates. If you're connecting internationally via a hub, our explainer on codeshare vs interline baggage is worth a read so you know whether your bags check through.
Getting to and from the airport
Gannavaram is about 13 km northeast of Vijayawada city — usually a 25-35 minute drive. From Amaravati it's roughly 41 km, and from Guntur it's a longer haul of around an hour-plus.
- Taxi / app cabs — the main option; app cabs and prepaid taxis serve the airport.
- APSRTC buses — Andhra Pradesh state buses connect Gannavaram with Vijayawada and surrounding towns; budget-friendly but check timings.
- Rail — Vijayawada Junction is one of India's busiest rail hubs, so many travellers combine a train into Vijayawada with a short cab to the airport.
Practical tips for flying VGA in 2026
- Allow buffer at the old terminal: until the new terminal opens, peak banks can feel cramped — arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 for international.
- Confirm international ops: the Singapore and Sharjah services have varied historically; verify your flight is operating before locking in onward plans.
- Use the rail option: for travellers from Guntur/coastal AP, Vijayawada Junction plus a short cab can beat driving the whole way.
- Watch new-terminal news: when the new building opens, expect changed entry points and more capacity; check the airport site close to travel.
- As of 2026, verify on the AAI/airport site — schedules and the terminal situation here have been moving targets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IATA code for Vijayawada airport?
Vijayawada Airport's IATA code is VGA (ICAO: VOBZ). It is located at Gannavaram, about 13 km northeast of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
Does Vijayawada airport have international flights?
Yes. Vijayawada is an international airport — it launched its first international flight to Singapore in 2018. As of 2026 international service includes Singapore (IndiGo) and a Sharjah link; verify current operations on the airline/airport site before booking.
How far is Vijayawada airport from the city and from Amaravati?
Gannavaram airport is about 13 km northeast of Vijayawada city (a 25-35 minute drive) and roughly 41 km from Amaravati.
Has the new Vijayawada airport terminal opened?
As of early 2026 the new integrated terminal — a roughly 35,000 m² AAI project designed to handle wide-body aircraft — had not yet opened after repeated delays. Treat any opening date as provisional and check the airport's official updates.
Which airlines fly from Vijayawada?
As of 2026 the carrier mix is broad for a tier-2 airport: IndiGo, Air India / Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air and the regional carrier Fly91, depending on the route.
Can I fly Vijayawada to Singapore directly?
Yes, IndiGo has operated the non-stop Vijayawada-Singapore route — VGA's longest at about 4.5 hours. Confirm the current schedule before booking, as tier-2 international routes can change.