New Delhi: For years, the simple cup of tea at an Indian airport has carried a price tag, often retailing for a staggering Rs 200 to Rs 300. But the Ministry
of Civil Aviation is officially grounding those inflated prices.
Under a new nationwide push, the government has set a hard deadline to make tea and snacks affordable for passengers. By the end of this year, every single airport in the country will host a Udaan Yatri Café, offering snacks at “common man” prices.
What is on the menu of Udaan Yatri Café
The initiative aims to democratise the airport experience, ensuring that flying doesn’t have to mean overpaying for basic food. The menu at these cafés is strictly capped to keep wallets heavy and stomachs full. The cafe will offer Chai, bottled water for RS 10 each, and Coffee, and samosas will cost Rs 20 each.
The cafe menu will include local specialities of the place for Rs 20 (e.g., Rasgullas in Kolkata or Vada Pav in Pune).
Expansion after successful pilot project at Kolkata airport
The journey began last January as a pilot project at Kolkata Airport. Since then, the concept has successfully touched down in Pune, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, and Chennai.
Delhi airport is in process of setting up its own Udaan Yatri Café
Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), confirmed that the Indira Gandhi International Airport, India’s busiest hub, is currently in the process of setting up its own Udaan Yatri Café.
The Pune Airport branch has distinguished itself by being operated entirely by women employees, blending affordability with empowerment. In Chennai, the café is strategically located in the pre-check area of the T1 domestic terminal, serving the 22 million passengers who pass through the “Southern Gateway” annually.
The vision of Udaan Yatri Café: “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik”
Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu described the project as a direct extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN scheme. The goal is to make air travel “inclusive,” moving away from the era where airports were seen as elite enclaves with prohibitive costs.
“The Udaan Yatri Café is a testament to the vision of inclusive flying,” Naidu had said while inaugurating the Udaan Yatri Café at Koklata airport in 2025. He emphasised that while the prices are low, the government is not compromising on quality; any complaints regarding food hygiene are being fast-tracked for immediate action.
Udaan Yatri Café’s one café rule
While the government intends to blanket the national aviation map with these budget stalls, there is a catch. Only one Udaan Yatri Café will be permitted per airport. This ensures that while there is always a guaranteed affordable option for passengers, it co-exists with the existing premium food courts in the airport premises.
