Surat : Get ready to tighten your seatbelts, Surtis, because your flights out of the Surat International airport are about to become a tad pricier. Following the recent upgrade of Surat airport to international status, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has bumped it up to Cluster 1, meaning extra charges for passengers starting April 1, 2024.
“This is a bittersweet pill,” sighed a frequent flyer, adjusting her diamond necklace. “While the international tag is a feather in Surat’s cap, the cost hike makes me think twice about my next vacation.”
The Modi government’s recent decision to bestow international status on Surat airport comes with a cost. As passenger traffic surpasses the one-million mark, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has bumped the airport to Cluster-1, triggering a cascade of additional fees.
The user development fee is leading the charge, jumping from a modest Rs. 100 in 2020-21 to a whopping Rs. 709 by April 2024. Add to that the passenger service fee (Rs. 83), common user terminal fee (Rs. 50), and aviation security fee (Rs. 234), and you’re looking at a cool Rs. 550 extra for every domestic and international flight out of Surat.
What is Cluster rank of the airport?
Clusters are ranked based on passenger traffic. If an airport has more than 10 lakh passenger movement per annum, it is placed in C-1 category. Likewise, passenger traffic between 1 lakh to 9,99,999 falls in C-2 category and 0 to 99,999 in C-3. Currently there are 14 airports in C-1, 30 in C-2 and 66 in C-3 in the country.
“It’s definitely going to pinch,” admitted Sanket Shah, a businessman who travels regularly for work. “But hopefully, the convenience of international flights will outweigh the cost increase in the long run.”
“The high-flying Surtis will have to dig deeper,” sighed Rakesh Patel, a diamantaire, echoing the sentiment of many.
“It’s not just about the extra bucks,” grumbled Sanjay Ezhava, president of Surat Airport Action Committee (SAAC). “We saw negative feedback in the AAI survey last year on facilities. So, are we paying more for the same?”
His concerns are legitimate. The user development fee at Surat airport is about to skyrocket, jumping from Rs.100 to Rs.709 by April 2024. On top of that, passengers will also be charged aviation security fees, passenger service fees, and a common user terminal equipment fee, amounting to an additional Rs.367 per ticket.
“This translates to a whopping Rs.550 increase in airfare for both domestic and international flights,” explained a travel agent, shaking his head. “Airlines will likely factor this in by March-end, so expect ticket prices to soar soon.”
While the AAI justifies the fees as essential for infrastructure development, passengers feel burdened by the double whammy of rising costs and questionable service quality. As Shailesh Patel, a frequent flyer puts it, “We want Surat airport to shine, but not just on paper. We need a real diamond-class experience, not just a hike in our travel bills.”
With the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) potentially increasing charges further in the coming months, the future of air travel from Surat seems anything but smooth. As one frequent flyer remarked, “The only thing taking off at Surat airport soon might be passenger frustration.”
