Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India has notified a reduction in the User Development Fee for passengers traveling through Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. The revised tariff structure, part of the fourth control period, takes effect on September 1, 2026.

Travelers using the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad will see a reduction in user charges starting September 1, 2026. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has notified a revised User Development Fee (UDF) for both departing and arriving passengers as part of the tariff order for the fourth control period spanning 2026 to 2031.

For domestic travelers, the UDF for departing passengers will decrease to ₹515 per passenger from the existing ₹750, marking a reduction of ₹235. Additionally, arriving domestic passengers will be subjected to a charge of ₹220 per passenger. International travelers will also experience lower fees, with departing international UDF set at ₹1,030 compared to the current ₹1,500, while arriving international passengers will be charged ₹440.

According to the regulatory release issued on August 24, these revised tariffs will remain applicable from September 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The broader tariff order will stay in force until March 31, 2031.

AERA explained that the UDF has been determined for both embarking and disembarking passengers to reflect the usage of significant airport infrastructure and terminal facilities. Amenities such as aerobridges, travelators, and conveyor belts are utilized by both categories of passengers, and the allocation is intended to distribute the tariff burden more equitably among airport users.

The fee structure is scheduled to undergo changes over the course of the five-year control period. For domestic departing passengers, the UDF will increase to ₹555 in the 2027-28 period, ₹620 in 2028-29, and ₹670 between April and October 2029, before dropping to ₹415 starting November 2029. Similarly, the UDF for domestic arriving passengers will transition from ₹220 to ₹285 before eventually declining to ₹175.

"The revision in user development fees by regulatory authorities directly impacts travel economics and logistics efficiency for business travelers and enterprises alike. Transparent adjustments in infrastructure-related tariffs help maintain balanced financial burdens across airport users while planning for long-term operational expansions through defined control periods." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes

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