Planning to fly out of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)? Well, get ready to shell out more money, especially if you’re flying internationally. Starting April 16, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has approved a significant increase in User Development Fees (UDF), with international fliers seeing a massive 500% jump in departure and arrival charges.
User Development Fees At Delhi Airport To Hike By 500%
For years, both domestic and international passengers have paid the same UDF. But not anymore! AERA, considering that 80% of IGIA’s traffic is domestic, has chosen to leave the domestic user development fee unchanged at ₹129 (departure) and ₹56 (arrival). As per the Financial Express reports, international travellers will feel the pinch with the following revised rates:
- Economy Class: ₹650 (departure), ₹275 (arrival)
- Business Class: ₹810 (departure), ₹345 (arrival)
This means an international economy traveller will now pay ₹925 extra per round trip, while a business class flier will be charged ₹1,155 more.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates IGIA, had initially proposed a whopping 730% increase in charges to cover infrastructure upgrades, maintenance costs, and service quality improvements. After negotiations, AERA settled on a 140% increase, which is far lower but still a significant jump.
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International Travellers Hit With Fee Hike
AERA justifies the hike in user development fees under the ‘user pays’ principle, arguing that business class travellers receive premium services, so they should pay more. They also believe that higher charges will fund better infrastructure, ensuring smoother airport operations.
Not just passengers but airlines will also face changes in landing charges, which are now differentiated based on the type of aircraft. According to the Financial Express reports, wide-body aircraft (used for long-haul international routes) will be charged more than narrow-body ones. These revised rates apply to both domestic and international flights.
If you frequently fly internationally from Delhi, expect higher ticket prices, as airlines might pass on these increased costs to passengers. Budget travellers may now consider alternate airports like Mumbai, Bengaluru, or even nearby international hubs like Dubai and Bangkok. While this user development fee hike may sting international travellers, the hope is that it leads to a world-class airport experience.
If you’re flying soon, it might be time to rethink your travel budget.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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