Vijayawada and Varanasi to be linked by direct flights from August 13

Travel between Varanasi and Vijayawada is about to get much easier. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced on June 2, 2026 that direct flights connecting the two cities will begin on August 13, 2026, operating three times a week — every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday — in each direction. The new service links Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi with Vijayawada International Airport, opening a convenient corridor for pilgrims and tourists from Andhra Pradesh heading to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the ghats. It also makes it simpler for travellers from the north to reach the temple towns and riverfronts of the Krishna belt. Until now, the journey between the two cities usually meant a connecting flight or a long train ride. A thrice-weekly direct link, timed to the Shravan season, removes much of that friction and is expected to be welcomed by families planning darshan trips in either direction. The flights add to the steady widening of Varanasi's air map, which already connects the city to a growing list of metros and regional hubs — another sign of Kashi's rising pull as a destination. Travellers are advised to check airline schedules once bookings open.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Travel+Leisure Asia (India) · Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport — Wikipedia