The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has reportedly agreed to study the feasibility of setting up seven new airports in the state, following a recommendation by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Centre indicated its willingness to conduct the study after the Chief Minister offered to allot land for the proposed airports.

The Prime Minister is said to have proposed new airports at Kuppam, his birthplace, as well as Dagadarthi in Nellore and Nagarjuna Sagar in Palnadu district. It was noted that the Centre has decided to include Srikakulam, the birthplace of Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, in the feasibility study. Of particular significance is that the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district is located near Srikakulam.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu reportedly stated that four locations—Srikakulam, Kuppam, Dagadarthi and Nagarjuna Sagar—had been identified for the feasibility study and that work on the new airports would begin expeditiously once the report is received. The minister also indicated that the viability of airports at Ongole, Tadepalligudem and the Tuni-Annavaram area would be assessed in the second phase. Moreover, the Prime Minister had sought a study on converting the private airport at Puttaparthi for public use.

It was highlighted that with seven airports currently operational in Andhra Pradesh, the addition of these proposed airports would take the total to 14. The minister also announced plans to enhance flight connectivity from Vijayawada to Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Visakhapatnam, with a target of completing Bhogapuram Airport by 2026 and completing several runways and airport expansions by the end of 2025.

The minister also announced that the Centre would soon introduce a seaplane policy, which he said would help make Andhra Pradesh more attractive to tourists.