New Delhi, July 30 -- The Centre has decided to end scheduled commercial operations at the existing Visakhapatnam Airport and transfer its airport code, VTZ, to the upcoming Alluri Sitarama Raju International Greenfield Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on August 1.

The Bhogapuram airport is expected to begin commercial operations on August 17.

This would be a first in recent times after India has become third largest domestic aviation market globally and needs more airports.

In Goa, both the existing and the new airports continue to operate, while cities such as Delhi and Mumbai have two operational airports.

According to a notification issued by the ministry of civil avi...