Bengaluru airport hikes user fee by a massive 120%

The User Development Fee (UDF) has been hiked by a massive 120% for both domestic and international departing passengers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here for the next four months.

The hike comes into effect from April 16. The UDF for domestic departures has been revised to Rs 306 from Rs 139. For international departures, the Fee is now Rs 1,226, up from Rs 558.

The revised charges will be applicable for tickets procured between April 16, 2019 and August 15, 2019. The UDF at will revert to the earlier rates after August 15, according to KIA operator, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

The four-month hike is based on an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) amendment issued on April 4, 2019 to its earlier.

The amendment itself followed an interim relief given by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) ruling of March 14, 2019, allowing BIAL to collect revised charges for a limited period of four months.

The airport operator says the additional funds collected will only be used to meet capital expenditure of the expansion projects and will provide BIAL with required cash flows for implementation of these projects.

"This incremental increase in charges would provide BIAL much needed relief as we are in the midst of a massive Rs. 13,000 crore capacity expansion to cater to the stupendous growth of the aviation sector in India," says BIAL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hari Marar.

As mandated by AERA, the money generated from the incremental increase in UDF, during these four months, will be deposited in a separate bank account and will be used only to fund the ongoing infrastructure expansion, " says Marar.