What Exactly Is Changing?
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has approved a new tariff plan that alters the User Development Fee (UDF) for passengers. Effective from September 1, 2026, the fee for departing domestic passengers will decrease significantly,
while for the first time, a fee will be levied on arriving passengers. The new charges are part of a five-year plan running until March 31, 2031. Previously, only departing passengers paid a UDF. This change redistributes the cost between those arriving and departing, leading to a different overall calculation on your flight ticket. For tickets issued on or after this date, the new fee structure will apply.
The New Fee Structure: A Breakdown
The most significant change is the reduction in the departure fee and the introduction of an arrival fee. For domestic flyers, the departure UDF will be cut by 45.5%, dropping from ₹550 to ₹300 per passenger. Simultaneously, a new UDF of ₹125 will be applied to each domestic passenger arriving in Bengaluru. For international travellers, the changes are also notable. The departure UDF will be reduced from ₹1,500 to ₹997. A new UDF of ₹426 will be charged for international arrivals. This means while departing passengers will see a lower charge on their tickets compared to before, the overall cost structure now includes both legs of the journey for anyone flying into the city.
Why Are These Fees Being Changed?
The User Development Fee is a crucial source of funding for airport operations, maintenance, and major infrastructure upgrades. The restructuring by AERA for Bengaluru airport aims to create a more balanced system for financing its large-scale expansion projects, including new terminals and taxiways. This new model introduces a baseline UDF which is lower than the previous charge. However, it also allows for smaller, incremental charges to be added in the future, but only after specific new infrastructure projects are completed and operational. This 'user pays' principle ensures that passengers are not charged for facilities that are yet to be commissioned, a departure from previous practices where fees were front-loaded for future projects.
How to Spot the Fee on Your Flight Ticket
When you book a flight, the final price is composed of a base fare plus various taxes and fees. The UDF is one of these mandatory charges collected by the airline and passed on to the airport operator. To see what you’re paying, look for the detailed price breakup or ‘fare rules’ section when booking online. You will see line items for different taxes. While the exact code can vary, UDF is often listed with the code ‘IN’. It will appear alongside other charges like the Passenger Service Fee (PSF) and Aviation Security Fee (ASF). Before you confirm payment, a full breakdown is typically displayed, allowing you to see the exact UDF amount being charged for your travel through Bengaluru.
What This Means for Future Travel
For the majority of domestic travellers, who make up about 84% of the airport's traffic, this change initially makes departing from Bengaluru cheaper. The total combined UDF for a round trip (arrival and departure) for a domestic passenger will be ₹425 (₹300 + ₹125), which is lower than the previous one-way departure fee of ₹550. Similarly, for international travellers, the combined fee is ₹1,423, which is also slightly less than the previous departure-only fee of ₹1,500. However, it's important to remember this is a baseline. AERA's new structure allows for additional charges to be implemented between 2029 and 2031 as major projects like the new Terminal 2 phase and Eastern Connectivity Tunnel are completed. So while fees are lower now, they are designed to rise incrementally as the airport's new facilities come into use.
