Pune airport opens Udaan Yatri Café with Rs 10 tea, Rs 20 snacks for flyers

​In a significant move to make air travel more affordable and passenger-friendly, Pune International Airport has inaugurated the 'Udaan Yatri Café' at its new terminal. This initiative, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, aims to provide budget-friendly refreshments to travelers, addressing long-standing concerns about exorbitant food and beverage prices at airports.

Affordable Refreshments for All

The Udaan Yatri Café offers essential items at remarkably low prices:​

->Bottled Water: ₹10

->Tea: ₹10

->Coffee: ₹20

->Samosa: ₹20

->Gulab Jamun: ₹20​

These prices are a stark contrast to the previous rates at the airport, where a bottle of water could cost between ₹60 and ₹80, and a cup of tea was priced as high as ₹200. ​

Strategic Location and Accessibility

Situated near the exit gate of Pune Airport's new terminal, the café is strategically placed to serve the high footfall of passengers. Pune Airport handles approximately 160 flights daily, catering to around 25,000 to 27,000 passengers. The café's location ensures that travelers can easily access affordable refreshments without straying far from their departure or arrival points.​

A Nationwide Initiative

The concept of the Udaan Yatri Café was first introduced at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in December 2024, coinciding with the airport's centenary celebrations. The café quickly gained popularity, serving an average of 900 passengers daily in its initial month. Following its success, similar cafés have been launched at other major airports, including Chennai and Ahmedabad, with plans to expand to Delhi and other locations under the Airports Authority of India.

Addressing Passenger Concerns

The introduction of the Udaan Yatri Café directly addresses frequent complaints from passengers about the high cost of food and beverages at airports. By offering quality refreshments at reasonable prices, the café ensures that travelers, regardless of their budget, can enjoy basic amenities during their journey.

Enhancing the Travel Experience

Beyond affordability, the café contributes to a more inclusive and comfortable travel experience. It aligns with the broader goals of the UDAN scheme, which seeks to make air travel accessible to the common citizen. By reducing ancillary costs associated with flying, such initiatives encourage more people to consider air travel as a viable option.​

Future Prospects

The positive reception of the Udaan Yatri Café in Pune and other cities indicates a strong demand for such facilities. As the Ministry of Civil Aviation continues to prioritize passenger welfare, we can anticipate the rollout of more such cafés across the country's airports. This move not only benefits travelers but also sets a precedent for other service providers within airports to reconsider their pricing strategies.​

In conclusion, the Udaan Yatri Café at Pune International Airport represents a commendable step towards making air travel more equitable and enjoyable. By addressing a fundamental need—access to affordable refreshments—it enhances the overall passenger experience and reinforces the government's commitment to inclusive growth in the aviation sector.

The project, launched on Monday by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, is part of the overall Udaan scheme, designed to make air travel affordable and comfortable for all passengers.

As per the minister, more than 1.5 crore citizens have flown under the Udaan scheme programme in the past two-and-a-half years. Pune Airport has also witnessed huge growth, now operating almost 200 flights daily and catering to about nine million passengers annually. To aid this growth, a new 52,000-sqm terminal has been introduced with 34 check-in desks and 25 Digi Yatra kiosks to ensure better passenger movement. The older terminal will also be redeveloped with 14 additional check-in desks and another 10–15 lakh annual capacity.

In addition, cargo operations recorded an 8.45 per cent increase and passenger traffic improved by 10.66 per cent, an indication of the fast growth.