Delhi airport plans higher fees for business class, peak hour flyers

New Delhi: Flying to and from Delhi Airport is set to become more expensive starting April, with costs varying based on your travel class and flight timing.

Under the proposed annual tariff plan submitted by GMR-owned Delhi International Airport Ltd. to the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority, passengers will face higher user development fees, especially during peak hours.

For domestic departures, the proposed fee will be ₹610 during peak hours and ₹405 during non-peak hours in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. For arrivals, the charges are set at ₹210 during peak hours and ₹140 during non-peak hours.

Peak hours have been defined as 5:00–8:55 a.m. and 5:00–8:55 p.m., according to the submission reviewed by media Profit.

The user development fee is levied on passengers to fund airport development and modernisation. It is included in the final ticket price, collected by airlines and later passed on to the airport operator.

Notably, the Delhi airport has also proposed charging international business and first-class passengers double the user development fee, compared to economy travellers over the next four financial years. If approved, this will be India's first airport with a variable tariff structure. 

In case of international arrivals, an economy or premium economy passenger will pay a fee of Rs 280, as compared with Rs 570 for business class passengers. For departures, the fee for economy class is set at Rs 810, while business class passengers will have to shell out a hefty Rs 1,280.

-B