Smoking Rooms at Vizag Airport – VTZ

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Yes, you can smoke at Visakhapatnam’s Vizag Airport (VTZ) in the smoking lounge inside the Security Hold Area of the departure hall, fitted with the standard wall-mounted electric lighter, plus outdoor spots along the terminal frontage before security. Plan around one big date: on 17 August 2026 all scheduled services move to the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, about 40 km northeast of the city.

Smoking at VTZ Today

Vizag Airport is a compact civil-enclave airport sharing the Indian Navy’s INS Dega air station, with a single integrated terminal handling domestic and limited international flights. It is a smoker-friendly small airport: the smoking lounge sits inside the Security Hold Area, listed for both the domestic and international sections, so you can smoke after clearing security without leaving the secure zone. Because lighters are surrendered at screening, the lounge uses the wall-mounted electric lighter — see our guide to the electric lighter machines at Indian airports if it is your first time.

Landside, smokers use the outdoor spots along the terminal frontage, away from the doors, before check-in and screening.

The Move to Bhogapuram (17 August 2026)

From 12:01 am on 17 August 2026, commercial flights transfer to the new Bhogapuram airport and the Vizag civil enclave ceases scheduled operations; the site remains with the Navy. The new airport inherits the familiar VTZ code. None of Vizag’s smoking facilities transfer automatically — Bhogapuram has no documented smoking facility yet, so if you fly after the switchover, treat the departure as smoke-free until on-the-ground reports establish where (or whether) the new airport provides a smoking zone. See our guide to smoking at Bhogapuram Airport for the latest.

Summary

AreaSmokingNotes
Security Hold Area loungeYesDomestic + international sections, wall-mounted electric lighter
Terminal frontageYes — outdoorBefore security, away from the doors
After 17 August 2026Moves to BhogapuramNew airport’s smoking arrangements not yet documented

For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, and lighter-machine instructions, see our India smoking guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ) still open for flights?

Yes — VTZ handles all of Visakhapatnam’s scheduled flights until 17 August 2026, when services move to the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, about 40 km northeast of the city. Check your ticket around the switchover date to confirm which airport your flight uses.

Where is the smoking lounge at Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ)?

The smoking lounge sits inside the Security Hold Area of the departure hall, listed for both the domestic and international sections, with the standard wall-mounted electric lighter. Outdoor spots along the terminal frontage serve smokers before security.

What happens to VTZ after 17 August 2026?

All scheduled commercial flights transfer to the new Bhogapuram airport at 12:01 am on 17 August 2026, and the civil enclave at Vizag ceases commercial operations. The new airport inherits the VTZ code; see our Bhogapuram guide for its smoking arrangements as they emerge.

Can I vape at Visakhapatnam's airports?

Cigarettes are permitted in VTZ’s designated smoking lounge and outdoor spots — vaping is banned nationwide under PECA, with e-cigarettes illegal in India since 2019 at VTZ, Bhogapuram and everywhere else, so leave vape devices at home.