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From First Flight to Final Goodbye : 70 Years of Memories End at Vizag’s Old Airport
Visakhapatnam : Some places are more than buildings they become part of people’s lives. For nearly 70 years, Visakhapatnam’s old airport witnessed countless departures, reunions, dreams and farewells. But now, its runway has fallen silent after the departure of its final flight. As the airport closes its doors and operations move to the new facility, the most painful chapter is unfolding for nearly 200 employees, many of whom spent years building their lives and careers at the old airport. For them, this is not just the closure of a workplace it is an emotional goodbye to a place they called home. The flights may have stopped, but seven decades of memories will remain forever.
After nearly seven decades of service, Visakhapatnam’s old airport has witnessed an emotional farewell as its last flight departed, bringing an end to an important chapter in the city’s aviation history. For years, the airport was more than just a runway and terminal it was a workplace, a familiar landmark and a part of countless journeys and memories for generations of passengers and employees. But with operations shifting to the new Visakhapatnam airport, around 200 staff members associated with the old facility are reportedly facing an uncertain future, raising concerns over their employment and livelihoods.
The new airport, operated by GMR, is expected to offer modern facilities and a new workforce, leaving many long-serving employees wondering where they fit into the next chapter. For those who spent years serving passengers and keeping the old airport running, the closure is not simply the end of an airport it is the end of an era, a workplace and, for many, a lifetime of memories. As the final aircraft left the old runway, emotions ran high, with the silence that followed marking a poignant goodbye to a place that had served Visakhapatnam for generations.
