Business · India Bureau
Bengaluru Airport Cuts Departure Fee But Extends Charge to Arrivals
Kempegowda International Airport will reduce its User Development Fee for departing passengers from September 1, but the newly revised tariff structure will now impose charges on arriving passengers as well. The new rates will remain in effect until August 2029.
LSN India ·
Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will implement revised tariffs under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) framework beginning September 1, introducing a significant structural shift in how passenger fees are levied at the facility.
Under the current system, only departing passengers have borne User Development Fees (UDF). The new tariff regime will extend these charges to arriving passengers, marking a notable change in the airport's revenue model. While departing passenger UDF will be reduced under the revised structure, the expansion to incoming travelers represents a net increase in overall passenger fees at the airport.
The modified tariff order will remain in force for eight years, through August 2029, providing regulatory clarity for both airport operators and airlines operating at KIA. The changes are part of AERA's periodic review of airport charges across India's major aviation hubs.
Airports across India have seen periodic adjustments to their tariff structures as regulators balance infrastructure investment requirements with affordability concerns for passengers and operational viability for carriers. The introduction of arrival-based UDF at KIA is expected to generate additional revenue for airport infrastructure development and maintenance.