Fri Apr 04 15:06:41 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Airports Among Nation’s Most Expensive for Passengers

**Thiruvananthapuram, April 4, 2025** – Two airports in Kerala have emerged as the costliest in India for passengers due to high user development fees (UDF), a charge levied to recoup airport development and maintenance costs. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, controlled by Adani, holds the dubious distinction of having the highest cumulative UDF at ₹3,300 per passenger, applicable to both domestic and international arrivals and departures. Kannur International Airport is the most expensive for embarking passengers, charging ₹1,680 for international and ₹750 for domestic travelers, totaling ₹2,430.

This high cost is due to a UDF applied to both departing and arriving passengers at Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Jaipur, and Mangaluru airports – four of the six privatized airports in India. Ahmedabad and Lucknow airports do not apply the UDF to disembarking passengers. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) sets these fees, considering factors like investment returns and operating costs.

Recently, Thiruvananthapuram’s UDF for domestic passengers was hiked by 50%, reaching ₹840 for departures and ₹360 for arrivals from April 1st, 2025. However, airport sources claim that despite the high UDF, airfares have remained competitive due to increased airline operations since privatization. For example, a Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi flight costs less than a similar flight from Cochin, where UDF is significantly lower. Airport officials anticipate other airports will soon implement similar charges for both arriving and departing passengers.

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