Social media posts are going viral, claiming that the Mumbai International Airport has increased the User Development Fee (UDF), which will ultimately burden passengers with higher costs. Left-leaning users allege that Gautam Adani, chairperson of the Adani Group, which operates the airport, is influencing electricity prices and flight ticket charges. The posts also accuse the Adani Group of promoting crony capitalism.
Raju Parulekar shared, ‘Adani proposes ‘User Fee’ hike for Mumbai International Airport. Ultimately, it will be collected from the Citizens through increased ticket prices. So Adani now determines the Electricity Tariffs for supply of electricity in Mumbai, TDR that would be generated through Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the User Fee at Mumbai Airport. So now you know who controls Mumbai❓’
Adani proposes ‘User Fee’ hike for Mumbai International Airport. Ultimately, it will be collected from the Citizens through increased ticket prices.
— Raju Parulekar (@rajuparulekar) March 19, 2025
So Adani now determines the Electricity Tariffs for supply of electricity in Mumbai, TDR that would be generated through Dharavi… pic.twitter.com/FJa7BNlqct
Pragnya Gupta stated, ‘ In BJP Government there is a loot as Adani Group quietly hikes Mumbai airport fee from ₹187 to ₹659.’
Loot maar machi huyi hai.
— Pragnya Gupta (@GuptaPragnya) March 22, 2025
Vote for BJP so that you are flooded with more acche din 🤷♀️🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/3DfryP47mK
Saleem Dharanidharan wrote, ‘As Aurangazeeb is being discussed – Adani increases the user fee From ₹187 to ₹650 at Mumbai airport .Common man suffers . Already flight charges have exponentially increased due to monopoly.’
As Aurangazeeb is being discussed – Adani increases the user fee From ₹187 to ₹650 at Mumbai airport .
— Salem Dharanidharan (@dharanisalem) March 19, 2025
Common man suffers – 😢. Already flight charges have exponentially increased due to monopoly. pic.twitter.com/kVn0Mh4cZ7
Congress leader Anuma Acharya asserted, ‘Convenience fee increased at Mumbai airport! Soon all the airports in the country will adopt this policy! On one hand, people wearing slippers were shown dreams of air travel, and on the other hand, the reality is that even the upper middle class was trapped in the web of fares and convenience charges. The result was that everyone was fooled!’
ब्रेकिंग न्यूज:
— Wg Cdr Anuma Acharya (Retd) (@AnumaVidisha) March 20, 2025
मुंबई एयरपोर्ट पर सुविधा शुल्क बढ़ा!
जल्द ही देश के सभी एयरपोर्ट इसी नीति को अपनाएंगे!
एक तरफ हवाई चप्पल वालों को हवाई यात्रा के सपने दिखाए गए, और दूसरी तरफ हकीकत ये है कि ऊंचे मध्यम वर्ग तक को किराए से लेकर सुविधा शुल्क के जंजाल में फंसा दिया गया। नतीजा—सभी… pic.twitter.com/Qvq1IRMjKy
Prashant Bhushan posted, ‘The price we pay for making Airports an Adani monopoly!’
The price we pay for making Airports an Adani monopoly! pic.twitter.com/FaKubGiPtQ
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 24, 2025
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Fact Check
We began our fact-checking process by conducting a Google search for relevant reports on the topic. During our search, we found a Hindustan Times article published on March 19, 2025. The report stated that Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) had submitted a proposal to the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) seeking the imposition of a ₹325 UDF for domestic departures and a ₹463 increase for international departures. MIAL claimed that the fee would help finance infrastructure development and technological upgrades at the airport.
The report further mentioned that, currently, there is no UDF for domestic passengers, while international travellers currently pay ₹187, which will increase to ₹650 under the proposal. The UDF will apply only to departing passengers. MIAL, a joint venture between Adani Airports and the Airports Authority of India, plans to revamp Mumbai’s Terminal 1. MIAL sources clarified that the proposed UDF hike will not affect ticket prices as it will be offset by a 35% reduction in airline landing and parking charges, which are already factored into ticket prices.
We also found a New Indian Express report published on March 19, 2025, which stated that the Adani Group-run MIAL, which operates the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, proposed a significant UDF hike for both domestic and international passengers. The UDF for domestic travellers, which is currently zero, would increase to ₹325 per departure, while the fee for international travellers would jump from ₹187 to ₹650.
The article further cited an AAHL (Adani Airports Holdings Ltd.) statement, which mentioned that the 35% reduction in airline landing and parking charges would offset the UDF hike, ensuring that ticket prices remain stable. The company stated that this reduction would help airlines manage costs efficiently and maintain competitive ticket prices.
Additionally, we found a Moneycontrol report published on March 18, 2025, which echoed the same details. The report emphasized that the UDF hike would not raise ticket prices, as it would be balanced out by the reduction in landing and parking charges, which are already included in ticket prices.
The Adani Group’s website also stated that “MIAL’s proposal attempts to offset this change and mitigate the impact on passengers by simultaneously reducing airline landing and parking charges by about 35 per cent, in order to strike a balance between infrastructure enhancement and sustain world-class airport operations. This reduction is expected to positively impact airfares from Mumbai, enabling airlines to manage costs more efficiently and maintain competitive ticket prices.”
Hence, the proposed UDF hike at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will not increase ticket prices, as it will be offset by a reduction in airline landing and parking charges. Therefore, the viral claim suggesting that the UDF hike will burden passengers is false. It appears to be fear-mongering by communists.
| Claim | The Mumbai International Airport has hiked the User Development Fee (UDF), which will increase ticket prices and burden passengers. |
| Claimed by | Social media users |
| Fact Check | The UDF hike will not impact ticket prices, as it will be offset by a 35% reduction in airline landing and parking charges, keeping fares stable. |
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