Flying charges from Ahmedabad airport to hike from Feb 1: AERA approves revised UDF rates

The user development fee (UDF) which is charged to domestic as well as international passengers is set to increase for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad.

Reportedly, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) which is India's central body responsible for determining the various tariff rates for aeronautical services has issued the latest tariff order for the Ahmedabad airport stating the revised UDF charges. Moreover, the new rates will be charged from the passengers starting from February.

The Ahmedabad airport is currently being run by the Adani-backed Ahmedabad International Airport Ltd. (AIAL), which proposed raised UDF rates from the AERA authority for augmenting the infrastructure of the terminals. However, the proposed rates were not in tandem with AERA. Yet a moderate hike for UDF charges has now been granted by the authority.

Presently, a UDF of ₹100 is charged to both international and domestic passengers flying from the airport. The revised UDF rates which will be applicable from the SVPI airport are:

• UDF of ₹250 will be charged from domestic passengers while international passengers will be required to pay ₹550, starting from Feb 1 which will be applicable till Mar 3, 2024.

• From Apr 1, 2024, to Mar 31, 2025, the UDF charge will further rise to ₹450 for domestic passengers while international passengers will be required to pay ₹880.

• Similarly, UDF charges will be ₹600 for domestic and ₹1,190 for international passengers up to March 31, 2026.

With this, AIAL is also working over infrastructural developments of the SVPI Airport in Ahmedabad these include expanding existing terminals and building complex to handle increased passenger volume, runways, taxiways, aircraft parking bays, air traffic control tower, cargo facilities, parking spaces and other additional facilities at the airport.