Sky-High Surcharges: Mumbai’s UDF Hike Leaves Flyers Paying More for Lift-Off

Mumbai, May 9, 2025: Domestic air travel out of Mumbai will cost more from May 16, 2025, as the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has sanctioned a steep rise in the User Development Fee (UDF) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The new rate imposes higher fees on domestic and international flyers with business class travelers paying the maximum increase.

Key Points at a Glance
What is Changing?
The UDF, a surcharge added to ticket costs to support airport infrastructure, will rise for all departing and arriving passengers from Mumbai airport.

The new rates are on tickets reserved on or after May 16, 2025, and will be valid until March 31, 2029.

New UDF Rates
Domestic Flights:

Departing passengers: ₹175 (increase from ₹120 earlier)

Arriving passengers: ₹75 (new rate)

International Flights:

Economy class (departing): ₹615 (increase from ₹187)

Economy class (arrival): ₹260 (introduced anew)

Business class (departure): ₹695 (introduced anew at a premium compared to economy)

Business class (arrival): ₹304 (introduced anew)

Who Will Be Most Affected?
Passengers traveling in business class on international flights will have to shell out the maximum UDF, which represents a new class-based differential pricing.

All those purchasing tickets on or after May 16, 2025, will have to pay the new UDF. Tickets purchased earlier than this are exempt.

Why the Hike?
The hike is part of a larger scheme to finance the modernization and expansion of the airport, to enhance passenger capacity and service standards.

The airport operator had initially sought even greater hikes, but AERA cleared a more moderate hike after scrutiny.

Impact on Passengers
The price of a domestic round-trip journey to/from Mumbai will go up by ₹250.

International economy round-trip fares will go up by ₹875, and business class by ₹999.

The UDF is retained in the fare of the ticket, and the travelers will only get to experience it at the point of sale.

Regulatory Perspective
According to AERA, the new model ensures proper distribution of all the costs of the airport usage across all consumers and facilitates ongoing development of the infrastructure.

Mumbai follows others like Delhi airports to introduce class-based UDF for international passengers.

Sources: Times of India, Economic Times, Business Standard, Hindustan Times, CNBC TV18, The Week