Navi Mumbai Airport Tickets May Not Be Affected by Higher Charges

Navi Mumbai Airport Fares to Get Cheaper, Despite Higher User Development Fee

Passengers flying out of the Navi Mumbai International Airport may not have to pay more than those traveling from Mumbai's main Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj airport, despite a higher user development fee (UDF) at the new facility. In fact, from June 1, flying out of Navi Mumbai could get cheaper due to a tariff order finalized by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on May 20.

The order comes into effect from June 1, and it lowers the UDF for the Navi Mumbai airport. Currently, the comparison of fares on select routes shows that while taxes and airport charges are higher at Navi Mumbai, lower base fares offered by airlines offset the impact for consumers.

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The table above shows that fares from Navi Mumbai are already cheaper than those from Mumbai, with the exception of one route where the difference is minimal.

According to revised UDF rates, domestic departing passengers at Navi Mumbai will pay Rs 620, against Rs 175 at Mumbai. International passengers flying out of Navi Mumbai will pay Rs 1,225, compared to Rs 1,060 at Mumbai. The existing UDF at Navi Mumbai for departing domestic passengers is Rs 840, and Rs 1,500 for international departing passengers.

Industry executives say airlines could strategically price tickets lower from Navi Mumbai airport in the initial years to encourage passenger traffic and improve aircraft utilization as operations ramp up. The Navi Mumbai airport, which opened on December 25, is widely seen as an extension of Mumbai airport, as both facilities are controlled by Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL).

AERA is also working on a combined tariff formula between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports under the grouping of airports policy introduced through amendments to the AERA Act. This would help smoothen passenger migration to Navi Mumbai airport while preventing it from becoming prohibitively expensive due to higher airport charges.

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AAHL has invested around Rs 16,700 crore in the Navi Mumbai airport, which is expected to initially handle 12 million passengers in FY27 before scaling up capacity in phases to 90 million passengers.