Air ticket prices for passengers flying out of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru are set to increase for four months from April 16 onwards, as the User Development Fee (UDF) at the airport is being revised. 

According to airport officials, the UDF is being revised based on an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) amendment, which was issued on April 4.

The UDF for domestic departures will be revised from Rs. 139 to Rs. 306 while the UDF for international departures will increase from Rs 558 to Rs 1226. The revised charges will be applicable from April 16 to August 16, 2019, after which the UDF charges will revert to the earlier rates. 

"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. We are thankful to TDSAT, AERA and the government of Karnataka for their continued support for BIAL’s huge infrastructure outlay," said Hari Marar, MD CEO of Bengaluru International Airport (BIAL).

The additional funds collected will be used to fund infrastructure expansion projects in the Bengaluru airport. "'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," Hari added.

The Kempegowda International Airport is the first Greenfield airport in India to be built as a public-private partnership. It is operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), where private promoters hold 74 per cent (Fairfax: 54 per cent and Siemens Projects Ventures: 20 per cent) stake in BIAL, while the Government holds the remaining 26 per cent (Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited: 13 per cent, Airports Authority of India: 13 per cent).