About Visakhapatnam International Cargo Airport

About Visakhapatnam International Cargo Airport

Learn more about Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport to upscale your export-import business. Vishakhapatnam is the liveliest coastal city of India, serving as a hub for export from the southern state of India, Andhra Pradesh. Famous for its seaport, Vishakapatnam International Airport (VTZ) is also known for its air cargo terminal. The Vishakhapatnam International Airport, commonly known as Vizag, operates inside the base of the Indian Navy, INS Dega, thereby indicating shared infrastructure between civil aviation and Indian Naval Force. Civil aviation is managed by the Airport Authority of India ( AAI).
Despite sharing it, the Airport has highly developed cargo terminals that facilitate the global and domestic logistics requirements of all the surrounding states and   Andhra Pradesh.
Since its inception, the Vizag Air Cargo terminal has largely supported pharmaceutical exports from pharmaceutical companies situated in the city’s SEZ zone. Likewise, it has carved the way for marine product exports of fish and shrimp. The cargo terminals of Vizag have also been a boon for industrial cargo and domestic e-commerce. The Vizag airport facilitates connectivity to Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Gulf through belly cargo.

Customs Port Code for Vishakhapatnam:  INVTZ1

Infrastructure with amenities at Vizag International Cargo Airport, India

Managed by AAI, the Vishakhapatnam International Airport cargo terminal is situated inside the operational zone of the Airport. The authorities have also authorized various ground handling and logistics companies to support operations at cargo terminals. Compared to cosmopolitan or metro cities, the port stretches over a relatively decent area. Still, the cargo terminal offers cutting-edge and dedicated amenities for international and domestic air cargo.Take a look at the  infrastructure of   Vishakhapatnam  International Cargo Airport-

  • About Vizag Cargo Terminal

It is built on a 4500 to 600 sq. meter area, including an expansion zone.  The cargo terminal has different zones for perishable handling and domestic and international cargo. Furthermore, it also extends cold storage amenities with two rooms having temperature control features. Following this, the Airport boasts dedicated truck docking bays, forklifts, pallet Handling Equipment, weighing scales, etc. The Vizag International Cargo Airport also offers a secure environment for cargo with round-the-clock CCTV Surveillance and X-ray scanning. Additionally, it is also fully equipped to handle emergencies with Fire safety and Emergency systems at the cargo terminals.

  • Cargo Security and live-screening services

The Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport gives foremost priority to the security of the Airport. The security features at the port involve–

    1. Hand-held scanners and sniffer dog units
    2. Explosive Trace Detection (ETD)
    3. The Airport contains X-ray screening machines for the export and import of cargo.
    4. The port also boasts Cargo Tracking and Manifest Systems.

For cost-effective and timely imports and exports from Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport, Contact Falcon. The top freight forwarder in India offers holistic logistics services as well. Call us at +91-9311595648 or cargodeal@falconfreight.com.

Handling Capacity and Performance

Despite being a Tier-2 airport, Vishakhapatnam has shown consistent expansion in cargo handling of perishable and pharmaceutical goods.

a. Capacity and Throughput
  • Designed Capacity: ~15,000 metric tonnes annually.
  • Cargo Handled in 2022-23: 9,200 metric tonnes approx.
b. Chief Drivers of  export
  • Pharma exports have grown immensely from Vishakhapatnam.
  • Seafood transfers have been appraised phenomenally, mainly in the Gulf and East Asian regions.
  • IT hardware consignments
  • Time-sensitive industrial spares

Types of Cargo Handled

Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport terminals boast an array of cargo, indicating its phenomenal contribution to the economy and profitable strength. Below are some major cargo handled at the Airport.  

Pharmaceuticals: Renowned pharma companies and labs export drugs and APIS. It requires temperature control and adherence to WHO-GDP Standards.

Agriculture products: Fruits, vegetables, and flowers are commonly exported from Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport. Fresh items are shipped to Singapore, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.  In fruits, mangoes and papaya dominate the export, whereas in flowers, roses and chrysanthemums rule the export.

Seafood and Oceanic Products: Cargo exported from the Vizag export terminal usually involves crabs, fish fillets, shrimp, cuttlefish, etc. Moreover, the major export of marine products is to the EU, UAE, and Japan. The cold-chain solution is well-available at the Airport above.    

Industrial Gears: The cargo terminal benefits industries majorly because it is near the Airport. The chief industrial equipment exported from the Vizag cargo terminal constitutes machine tools,  auto parts, and electrical goods.

Express Cargo: Businesses commonly use Vizag for express cargo needing quick delivery, as air freight is a popular mode for quick shipment—especially in the e-commerce sector.

Operating Airlines and Cargo Routes

While Vishakhapatnam International Airport cargo doesn’t have daily cargo flights regularly, it continues to support export from belly-hold cargo on flights run for passengers majorly.   Numerous domestic and international flights from the Airport are used for air freight. Here are some major domestic airlines handling cargo at the Vizag cargo terminal.
While Visakhapatnam does not yet operate dedicated cargo freighters daily, it benefits from belly-hold cargo capacity on passenger flights.

a. Domestic Airlines Handling Cargo—The leading domestic airlines handling cargo are Indigo Cargo, SpiceJet Cargo, and Blue Dart Aviation. While Indigo facilitates air cargo daily to the leading metro cities of India, Air India seldom facilitates cargo loads.

b. International Connectivity-  Vishakhapatnam has direct flights to countries like Singapore, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Furthermore, Air India Express, Jazeera Airways, Air Asia, Scoot, etc.

Cold Chain at Vishakhapatnam Cargo Terminal

Cold chain logistics keeps Vishakhapatnam International  Cargo Airport ahead of the curve. In addition to Capacity, it has logistics for time-sensitive and crucial cargo such as pharma, seafood, and horticulture.

Cold Chain Facilities at Vizag Air Cargo terminal constitute-
  • Refrigerated storage from 2 to 8°C)
  • Freezer units with  temperature below -18°C
  • Quick  despatches to rule out breaches of temperature
  • Pre-cooling compartments
  • Links with reefer trucks for port-to-door delivery.

For air cargo shipment from Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport, Contact Falcon, the best logistics company in India. Call us at +91-9311595648 or cargodeal@falconfreight.com.

Secondary Infrastructure at  Vizag Cargo Terminal

The Airport is strategically located near an industrial zone that ensures continuous export via air cargo.  

Railways ensure good connectivity to VTZ cargo airport, with Duvvada railway station (13 km away) being the nearest one. In contrast, Vishakhapatnam railway station is 13 Km away with a chief junction on the Howrah-Chennai line. Likewise, the Airport has easy access to the CONCOR container terminal, facilitating inland cargo transit to Nagpur, Hyderabad, Raipur, etc.  Like rail, Vishakapatnam International Cargo Airport is also well-linked by road to industrial zones, such as Pharma City, APIIC SEZs, etc. It is also close to NH-16, which links Chennai, Kolkata, and other cities in Andhra Pradesh.  Rail terminals like Marripalem and Duvvada Terminals connect Vizag cargo terminals with central India.

Warehousing Network- The cargo terminals at Vizag International Cargo Airport possess an on-airport and Off-airport warehousing ecosystem. AAI manages its import-export terminals and has cold storage efficiency for pharma and seafood.  Moreover, it also has pre-cooling units for the Perishable Cargo Centre.   Logistics parks like Pharma City, Atchutapuram, and Anandapuram are available for off-airport use. In addition to logistics parks, bonded and non-bonded warehouses with cold chains are also available in its vicinity. All warehouses, whether in or out of the Airport, are equipped with CCTV, Customs-bonded zones, fire safety, and reefer system amenities.

Industrial Clusters in Proximity to Vishakhapatnam Cargo Airport, India  

The proximity to the industrial area simplifies cargo transit, in addition to boosting trade via import and export. Underneath are some industrial areas near   Vishakhapatnam  International Cargo Airport, Andhra Pradesh, India, that have made significant contributions to strengthening the economy of the country-

  • IT SEZ at Rushikonda
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City
  • APIIC SEZ
  • Brandix Apparel City

Future Developments and Expansion of Vizag  Cargo Terminal

a. Bhogapuram International Airport-
It is approximately 45 Km from Vishakhapatnam airport cargo. GMR group proposes a dedicated air cargo terminal, air freight station, logistics parks,  and bonded warehouses supporting freighter air cargo operations. Officials expect it to increase cargo capacity by 100,000+ MT/year. They also anticipate it will come into operation by 2026–27.
b. Expansion plan by AAI in Existing Airport
  • Expand current terminal by 20–30%
  • Upgrade cold storage
  • Improve ULD (Unit Load Device) handling systems

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Constricted availability of land because of Naval control.
  • International cargo operation is not 24×7, thereby lacking steady export.  
  • Lack of freighters
  • Congestion at the cargo airport during peak seasons.

Conclusion: Powering the Eastern Air Cargo Grid

The Visakhapatnam Air Cargo Terminal might not have the standards of leading international airports in the country in terms of dimensions. Still, it is extensively involved in strengthening the economy of  Andhra Pradesh. The Airport has the latest logistics amenities to facilitate harmless and safe cargo shipping. Moreover, Vishakhapatnam International Airport supports the export of time-sensitive products, for instance, seafood, agro-based products, and pharmaceuticals, with swift delivery at the destination.

Falcon Freights- Leader of Air Freight Forwarding Services

Falcon Freight is the top freight forwarder in India, offering end-to-end air cargo and sea freight services worldwide. Get complete cargo solutions in one call in no time with documentation, warehousing, consolidation, cold storage, perishable goods storage, etc. Procure airport-to-airport or Door-to-door shipping solutions and allow yourself to scale your business higher.

For hassle-free and quick air cargo shipment from Vishakhapatnam International Cargo Airport, Contact Falcon is the top freight forwarder in Delhi and the best logistics company in India. Call us at +91-9311595648 or cargodeal@falconfreight.com.

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