Visakhapatnam’s Vizag city airport (VTZ) closed to scheduled commercial flights on 16 August 2026 — every service now uses the new Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, about 40 km northeast of the city, which inherited the VTZ airport code and has smoking lounges near the Security Hold Area. If you are flying to or from Visakhapatnam, that guide is the one you need.
What Happened on 17 August 2026
From 12:01 am on 17 August 2026, all commercial flights transferred to Bhogapuram and the Vizag civil enclave, which shared the Indian Navy’s INS Dega air station, ceased scheduled operations. The site remains with the Navy. Air India’s airport information page for the new airport lists smoking lounges near the Security Hold Area, so smokers keep an after-security option at Bhogapuram.
The Old City Airport’s Smoking Facilities (Historical)
Until the switchover, the single integrated terminal was a smoker-friendly small airport: a smoking lounge inside the Security Hold Area served both the domestic and international sections, fitted with the standard wall-mounted electric lighter, and outdoor spots along the terminal frontage covered the landside. None of that is available to passengers any more — this section stays for readers who remember the old airport.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vizag city airport (VTZ site) | Closed to scheduled flights | Since 16 August 2026; Navy-only site |
| Bhogapuram (new Visakhapatnam airport) | Yes — lounges near the Security Hold Area | See the Bhogapuram guide |
For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, and lighter-machine instructions, see our India smoking guide.