Get ready for potentially much pricier plane tickets from Delhi and Mumbai! If a contested court order sticks, the User Development Fees at India's busiest airports could jump by up to 22 times. This could mean adding thousands to your travel costs.
What is changing?
The price to fly out of Delhi might jump way up, with domestic tickets going from ₹129 to ₹1,261, and international soaring from ₹650 to over ₹6,300 per person.
Mumbai could see even bigger price jumps: local flights going from ₹175 to about ₹3,856, and international from ₹615 to roughly ₹13,500.
Airlines will likely just tack these costs onto your ticket, so expect to pay more for flights, whether you're flying local or going abroad.
Why the sudden price hike?
The trouble started back with the 2006 airport sales and disagreements about how to figure out the right price for airport fees- the Hypothetical Regulatory Asset Base thing. At the start, only aeronautical assets like runways were valued. But the airport owners argued to include non-aeronautical assets like shops and parking lots as well.
In July 2025, TDSAT agreed with the owners. They figured the airports didn't get about ₹50,000 crore they should have between 2009 and 2014. Now, they can get that money back by charging more for passenger fees, landing fees, and parking.
The legal battle
This court order is being challenged by AERA, airlines (like Lufthansa and Air France), and others in the Supreme Court. The case is scheduled for December 3, 2025, with Justices Aravind Kumar and Nilay Vipinchandra Anjaria hearing it.
Government sides with passengers
The government, through the Aviation Ministry, is on the side of AERA and the passengers. They think these price increases are anti-consumer and could hurt the growth of air travel.
Officials are saying that passengers shouldn't have to pay for these long legal battles, and the fees could increase dramatically if the court order stands.
What happens now?
The Supreme Court will make the call on whether these price increases move forward. They'll have to balance compensating the airport operators with keeping flights affordable for everyone else. For now, if you're booking flights from Delhi or Mumbai, things are up in the air. Keep an eye on the news.
