Bengaluru Airport adds pain to UDF pinch

Bengaluru Airport adds pain to UDF pinch


Hemanth CS
First Published : 16 Jan 2009 06:34:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 Jan 2009 11:33:32 AM IST

BANGALORE: Apart from having to shell out more for embarking on domestic flights at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) from Friday, travellers will have to face inconvenience before flying.

With BIA authorised to charge Rs 260 user development fees (UDF) on domestic flights, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has set up counters in the airport for the collection of the UDF.

The move will inconvenience passengers as they will have to pay and obtain the UDF receipt on arrival at the airport.

This is unlike the other private airports in the country.

At the GMR-promoted Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, UDF for domestic passengers is part of the ticket cost and is charged by the airline.

Airlines confirmed to Express that though they have received intimation from BIAL on UDF, the additional charge will not be part of the of the ticket cost.

Sources said BIAL has tied up with Thomas Cook and will set up counters on the curbside of the airport, where the passengers will have to pay and obtain the UDF receipt.

“The passengers will receive the UDF receipt and then the Central Industrial Security Force personnel will punch it before they proceed for their flights,” said an airline official.

BIAL’s move to collect UDF on its own is against the DGCA notice, which says domestic airlines must collect UDF on behalf of the airport operators