Officials of Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) on Monday, indicated that the issue of scrapping the user development fee for domestic short haul flights is a real possibility.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, the chief operating officer (COO) of BIA, Marcel Hungerbeulher said: “The issue of either revising or dropping the user development fee is under proposal. We are in discussion with the ministry of civil aviation over the issue. I cannot comment on the issue.

But the user development fee revision at least for the domestic flights could be possible,” he added.

UDF fee

BIA chief executive officer Albert Bruner had recently announced that it will charge a user development fee of Rs 240 plus taxes for the domestic passengers and Rs 520 plus taxes for the international passengers for the first two months after BIA starts the commercial operations.

On the opening of the airport, Bengaluru International Airport officials said that they were ready for a March 28 opening.

 “Now that the opening is scheduled for May 11, we are progressing well to make the airport ready for the commercial operations as per the revised date. Training for AAI staff on the ATC has also commenced,” they added.