Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh sits in a geography that air travel has largely skipped over. No functioning commercial airport operates within the district, leaving residents dependent on Vijayawada or Hyderabad for any flight they need to catch. Donakonda Airport changes that story — at least on paper. It exists, it has a government-assigned code, it sits on over 136 acres of AAI-owned land, and it is now being actively discussed at the highest levels of state and central aviation administration. Whether it becomes a working airport soon is the real question.
Quick Overview: Donakonda Airport
|
Detail |
Information |
|
Airport Name |
Donakonda Airport |
|
Location |
Donakonda, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh |
|
Airport Type |
Public — Currently Non-Operational |
|
ICAO Code |
VODK |
|
IATA Code |
Not Assigned |
|
Owner & Operator |
Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
|
Runway Designation |
05/23 |
|
Existing Runway Length |
Approx. 914 metres (3,000 ft) |
|
Proposed Runway Length |
1,575 metres (under revival plan) |
|
Total Land Area |
136.35 acres |
|
Elevation |
467 ft / 142 m AMSL |
|
Nearest Major Airport |
Vijayawada (Gannavaram) — ~150 km |
|
Current Status |
Non-Operational; Revival Under Assessment (2024–2026) |
Donakonda Airport Location: Where It Sits and Why It Matters
Donakonda Airport is located inside Donakonda town in Prakasam district, one of the larger interior districts of Andhra Pradesh. The site sits geographically midway between Hyderabad and Chennai — a corridor that carries significant road and rail traffic but has no civil airport along most of its length.
The nearest major reference point is Ongole, the Prakasam district headquarters, roughly 80 kilometres away. The flat terrain around Donakonda was precisely what made British military planners choose this site in 1934. That same terrain advantage holds today — unlike hilly locations that require expensive land levelling, Donakonda’s topography is ready for airstrip expansion without major earthworks.
The airport sits at an elevation of 467 feet above mean sea level, and its coordinates place it within the Vijayawada–Kurnool road belt, giving it reasonable access from multiple towns in the district.
Donakonda Airport Code: ICAO and IATA Details
The airport carries the ICAO code VODK. This four-character designator was assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization and slots Donakonda within India’s southern aviation zone — the VO prefix covers southern Indian airports within the broader South Asia aviation region.
No IATA code has been assigned to Donakonda Airport. IATA codes are allocated only to airports actively handling scheduled commercial flights, and since Donakonda has not processed civilian traffic for decades, it does not appear in airline booking systems or baggage routing networks. An IATA code would be applied only once scheduled commercial or regional operations formally begin.
Donakonda Airport Terminal: Current State and What Is Planned
The terminal building at Donakonda Airport is a wartime-era structure that has not been maintained or upgraded since flights stopped in the mid-1980s. The original construction from 1934 still stands in parts — but structurally compromised, overgrown with vegetation, and completely non-functional for any passenger use.
There are no check-in counters, no baggage handling belts, no waiting area, no security lanes, and no airline operations present at the site. What exists is a hollow shell of what once served as a basic transit and logistics facility during World War II.
The AAI’s pre-feasibility study, conducted during the 2017–18 aeronautical survey, recommended building an entirely new terminal from the ground up. The proposed format aligned with UDAN-category airport standards — compact, operationally efficient, and focused on basic passenger throughput rather than premium infrastructure. Planned features at that stage included a basic check-in hall, a security screening area, and a small departure lounge capable of handling regional aircraft loads.
As of mid-2026, no terminal construction has commenced. The building design, contractor appointment, and funding allocation are all pending confirmation.
Donakonda Airport Runway: Existing Condition and Expansion Plans
The airport has a single runway designated 05/23, originally laid in concrete during its World War II construction. The existing strip measures approximately 914 metres in length and 30 metres in width — dimensions adequate for light general aviation aircraft like a Cessna 172 under ideal conditions, but well below the minimum required for regional commercial aircraft operations.
Decades without resurfacing or maintenance have left the runway in deteriorated condition. The aeronautical survey recommended constructing a new runway of 1,575 metres in length to enable ATR-class or similar regional turboprop operations. Achieving that length would also require acquiring an additional 310 acres of land beyond the current 136.35 acres.
Neither the land acquisition nor the runway extension has moved to execution stage as of this writing.
Connectivity to Donakonda Airport: Road, Rail and Nearest Airports
Since the airport is non-operational, travellers from Donakonda and the surrounding Prakasam region currently rely entirely on road and rail for their mobility needs.
By Rail: Donakonda railway station (station code: DKD) is connected to the Vijayawada–Guntakal rail line, with three platforms and fully electrified tracks. This gives the town reasonable rail access toward Hyderabad, Chennai, and other major cities.
By Road: Donakonda lies on road corridors connecting Ongole to Kurnool, with state highway access feeding into the National Highway network. Road travel to Vijayawada takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the route.
Nearest Functioning Airports:
- Vijayawada (Gannavaram) Airport — approximately 150 km, the most practical option for most destinations
- Kurnool Airport — accessible for those travelling toward northern Andhra Pradesh or Telangana
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad — preferred for international travel, roughly 250 km away
Once the airport becomes operational, dedicated road approach infrastructure would need to be developed — the existing local roads around the airstrip are not suited for airport-level vehicle volumes.
Donakonda Airport Amenities: What Exists and What Is Expected
Honest assessment: there are no passenger amenities at Donakonda Airport today. The site has no fuel depot for commercial aircraft, no cargo handling bay, no air traffic control tower in active use, no retail or food outlets, no parking facility for passengers, and no public transport linkage to the airstrip.
The site is effectively unmanned for civilian purposes. Oversight responsibility sits with Gannavaram Airport management, which has a local representative stationed at Donakonda to handle land-related administrative matters.
When revival plans materialise, the expected amenity profile will follow the no-frills regional airport model common to UDAN-scheme airports across India — covering essentials such as basic security screening, a small departure lounge, ground handling equipment for regional aircraft, and a parking area. Premium facilities like aerobridges, multi-level terminals, or duty-free retail are not part of any current proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions: Donakonda Airport
Q1. What is the ICAO code for Donakonda Airport?
The ICAO code is VODK. No IATA code is assigned since the airport does not currently operate commercial scheduled flights.
Q2. Is Donakonda Airport open for passenger flights?
No. The airport is non-operational as of 2026. No flights are scheduled and the terminal is not functional. Revival discussions are active but no launch date has been confirmed.
Q3. Which airport is closest to Donakonda for travellers right now?
Vijayawada’s Gannavaram Airport, about 150 km away, is the nearest working airport. Kurnool Airport is also accessible depending on travel direction.
Q4. What does the existing Donakonda Airport infrastructure look like?
A single concrete runway (05/23), approximately 914 metres long, and a dilapidated wartime-era terminal building. No active navigation, cargo, or passenger facilities are operational.
Q5. What are the plans for Donakonda Airport development?
The state government has proposed developing it as a regional passenger airport or aviation training centre. Plans include a new 1,575-metre runway and a basic terminal. Feasibility assessments and land surveys are ongoing, with no confirmed start date for construction.
