Visakhapatnam: In a major development for trade and industry in Andhra Pradesh, international air cargo operations have officially resumed at Visakhapatnam Airport, after remaining suspended since the COVID-19 outbreak. The announcement was made by Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu at the CII Partnership Summit on Wednesday.

 

The services return at a time when passenger traffic is already showing strong recovery, with two international flights—one to Singapore and another to Abu Dhabi—reporting over 90% occupancy on most days, according to airport officials.

he resumption is widely expected to ease logistical challenges for exporters from the region. Until now, pharmaceutical, medical technology, textile, and other manufacturing units operating in the Pharma SEZ, AP MedTech Zone (AMTZ), Textile Park, and VSEZ were forced to route cargo through Hyderabad or Chennai, increasing operational costs and shipment delays.

Industry bodies see the restart as a critical step toward improving the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in Visakhapatnam and strengthening its position as an emerging logistics hub on the east coast. The initiative is the outcome of sustained efforts led by Hon’ble Visakhapatnam MP Shri M. Bharat, who worked closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to reinstate the facility.

The AP Air Travellers Association (APATA)—represented by K. Kumar Raja, D.S. Varma, and O. Naresh Kumar—welcomed the move and thanked the minister for his intervention. The association noted that IndiGo and Singapore Airlines are expected to commence dedicated cargo services soon, further expanding international connectivity for exporters.

APATA has urged air cargo handlers, freight forwarders, and exporters to fully utilize the reinstated operations, calling it a “long overdue facility that can significantly enhance global trade links from Visakhapatnam.”

 

With international cargo flights back in operation, Visakhapatnam appears poised to reclaim its strategic role in India’s maritime–air logistics network, offering a promising boost to regional industry and export-driven economic growth.