Airport History
Sri Vijayapuram Airport, formerly known as Veer Savarkar International Airport, is the primary aviation gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The airport is located at Sri Vijayapuram (formerly Port Blair), the capital of the Union Territory, and has historically played a strategic role in connecting the islands with mainland India.
Initially developed as a military airfield, the airport later expanded to support civil aviation under the management of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Over the years, increasing tourism, government travel, defence operations, and inter-island connectivity have driven continuous infrastructure development.
In 2023, AAI commissioned a modern integrated passenger terminal significantly increasing the airport’s handling capacity and improving passenger experience. In 2024, following the renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijayapuram, the airport also adopted the updated city name while continuing to honour Veer Savarkar in its official identity.
Today, Sri Vijayapuram Airport serves as the only major commercial airport in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is a critical transportation hub for residents, tourists, businesses, and government agencies.
Airport Overview
Sri Vijayapuram Airport is an international-designated airport operated by the Airports Authority of India. Although its scheduled operations are primarily domestic, the airport has the infrastructure to handle international flights and serves as a strategic aviation asset for India.
The airport connects the islands with major metropolitan cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam. Passenger traffic is driven predominantly by tourism, government administration, defence personnel, and local residents.
The new integrated terminal incorporates sustainable architecture inspired by the surrounding marine environment and substantially enhances passenger processing capacity. Due to its shared civil enclave with the Indian Navy (INS Utkrosh), airport operations are coordinated between civil and military authorities.
As tourism in the Andaman Islands continues to grow, Sri Vijayapuram Airport is expected to remain the principal aviation gateway supporting economic development, hospitality, and regional connectivity.
Airport Snapshot
| Parameter | Details |
| Airport Name | Sri Vijayapuram Airport (Formerly Veer Savarkar International Airport) |
| IATA Code | IXZ |
| ICAO Code | VOPB |
| Airport Type | International Airport (Civil Enclave) |
| Owner | Airports Authority of India |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Location | Sri Vijayapuram (Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| Elevation | Approximately 4 metres (13 ft) |
| Passenger Terminals | 1 Integrated Passenger Terminal |
| Runways | 1 |
| Runway Number | 04/22 |
| Runway Length | Approximately 3,290 metres |
| Runway Surface | Asphalt |
| Commercial Operations | Scheduled domestic operations with international capability |
| Primary Catchment | Entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| Major Airlines | IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet |
Market Intelligence
Sri Vijayapuram Airport occupies a unique position within India’s aviation network as the sole commercial airport serving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The airport functions as the primary gateway for residents, tourists, government officials, defence personnel, and businesses, making it an essential component of the Union Territory’s transportation infrastructure. Its strategic location in the Bay of Bengal and its role as a shared civil enclave with the Indian Navy further enhance its national importance beyond commercial aviation.
Tourism is the airport’s strongest market driver, with the Andaman Islands attracting a growing number of domestic and international visitors seeking beach tourism, water sports, eco-tourism, and heritage experiences. Destinations such as Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island), Radhanagar Beach, and the Cellular Jail continue to fuel passenger demand throughout the year, with peak travel occurring between October and May. This consistent tourist inflow has encouraged airlines to strengthen connectivity with major metropolitan cities, contributing to steady passenger growth.
Apart from tourism, the airport supports government administration, defence operations, fisheries, logistics, healthcare, education, and inter-island commerce. The modern integrated passenger terminal commissioned by the Airports Authority of India has significantly improved passenger handling capacity and operational efficiency, enabling the airport to accommodate future traffic growth while enhancing the overall passenger experience.
From a commercial perspective, Sri Vijayapuram Airport offers a premium advertising environment due to its captive audience, extended passenger dwell times, and limited availability of alternative advertising media across the islands. The airport attracts a diverse mix of leisure travellers, government officials, defence personnel, and high-spending tourists, creating valuable opportunities for brands in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, banking, telecommunications, retail, healthcare, and government awareness campaigns. As tourism and infrastructure development continue to expand across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the airport is expected to strengthen its position as a key commercial and economic gateway for the region.
SirriS Intelligence Summary
Sri Vijayapuram Airport is one of India’s most strategically significant regional airports, serving as the only major commercial aviation gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. While its passenger volumes may be lower than those of major metropolitan airports, its importance extends far beyond traffic numbers due to its critical role in supporting tourism, regional connectivity, national security, and government administration.
The airport demonstrates strong long-term growth potential, supported by increasing domestic tourism, continuous infrastructure investment, and improved airline connectivity with major Indian cities. The commissioning of the new integrated passenger terminal has positioned the airport to accommodate future demand while delivering an enhanced travel experience. Given the geographical isolation of the islands, air connectivity remains indispensable, ensuring sustained passenger movement throughout the year.
For the Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising industry, Sri Vijayapuram Airport presents a high-value niche opportunity. The airport offers access to a premium and engaged audience within a controlled environment where advertising enjoys high visibility and longer exposure times. With relatively limited competing media inventory across the islands, airport advertising has the potential to deliver stronger brand recall compared to larger urban markets. Industries such as tourism, hospitality, aviation, banking, consumer goods, telecommunications, and public sector organisations are particularly well-positioned to leverage this environment.
From the SirriS perspective, Sri Vijayapuram Airport should be classified as a Strategic Tourism Gateway with high commercial relevance, strong infrastructure readiness, and excellent long-term advertising potential. Its combination of strategic location, growing tourism ecosystem, modern infrastructure, and captive passenger base makes it an important airport for businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.