The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed plans to shut down Visakhapatnam airport. At a protest held in the city on Sunday, district secretary M. Jaggunaidu stated that the closure would harm regional interests. The airport, in operation for over six decades, serves around three million passengers yearly and supports tourism, transport, and many local jobs. He argued that the shutdown would inconvenience travelers and affect families tied to airport activities. Jaggunaidu urged authorities to maintain Visakhapatnam as a domestic airport while developing Bhogapuram for international services. District secretariat member B. Gangarao accused the state government of favoring the private Bhogapuram operator, warning of higher passenger costs and fees. Party leaders criticized regional elected representatives for not taking a position and called on the public to join protests against ending operations at the existing airport.
