If you're planning a flight to Bengaluru, be aware that the upcoming new UDF rules could impact your budget. What are the new rules?

Rules changed at Bengaluru Airport; tax will be levied on flight landing, ticket will be affected.

Bengaluru Airport: If you frequently fly to Bengaluru, or if you plan to fly to Bengaluru in the near future, this information is important for you. A new rule regarding passenger charges is about to be implemented at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. Let's find out what the new rule will be.

What is the new rule?

Under the new rules, passengers arriving at Bengaluru Airport by flight will now be charged a UDF (User Development Fee). This means you'll now have to pay not just the ticket fee, but also the UDF charge in addition to the ticket itself.

What is UDF and why is it taken?

First, let's understand what UDF is and why it's charged to passengers. UDF, or User Development Fee, is a fee levied at airports to cover the costs of airport facilities and infrastructure. This charge is typically added to passengers' tickets, and the rate is determined after approval by the AERA.

When will the rule come into effect?

Please note that this rule has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented from September 1, 2026. However, keep in mind that this charge will be levied separately for domestic and international travelers.

How much UDF will passengers travelling out of Bengaluru have to pay?

Previously, UDF was only applicable to flights departing from Bengaluru, but now passengers arriving at Bengaluru airport will also be charged UDF. If you're traveling outside Bengaluru, there's a welcome update for you: passengers departing Bengaluru will be charged a reduced UDF, as follows.

• The charge for domestic passengers will be reduced from Rs 550 to Rs 300.
• Whereas the charge for international passengers will be reduced from Rs 1500 to Rs 997.
• This means that passengers travelling out of Bengaluru will have to pay less UDF.

How much will the charge be?

Here's what charges passengers arriving at Bengaluru airport will have to pay...

• If we talk about domestic passengers, then UDF of Rs 125 will be charged from them.
• Whereas UDF of Rs 426 will be charged from international passengers.

This means that from now on, passengers traveling to Bengaluru will be affected by this. Suppose your ticket costs ₹3,000 and you pay ₹125 as UDF, making the total cost ₹3,125.