Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 9: Raghav Chadha on Monday urged the Centre to expand the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative to airports across the country, highlighting the long-standing issue of high food prices faced by air travellers.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party MP said passengers frequently complain about expensive food and beverages at airports. While appreciating the government for launching the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative, he stressed that the programme currently covers only a limited number of airports and needs broader implementation.
Chadha pointed out that India has more than 150 operational airports, but the affordable food outlets are currently available at only about 10 to 12 locations. He urged authorities to ensure that such cafes are introduced at every airport so passengers can access reasonably priced refreshments during their journey.
The MP also suggested that these outlets should ideally be located inside the departure area after check-in and security screening, where passengers spend the most time waiting to board their flights. According to him, travellers are more likely to purchase snacks or beverages during this waiting period.
“At present, these cafes are mostly located in the pre-check-in area before security. Placing them inside the departure area would make them far more convenient for passengers,” he said.
Chadha further noted that many existing outlets have limited counters, leading to long queues during peak travel hours. He added that restricted menu options and capacity constraints also limit accessibility for passengers.
Calling for improvements, he urged the government to establish Udaan Yatri Cafes at both major and smaller airports and ensure they are positioned in areas where passengers can easily access them after security checks.
Launched in February 2026, the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative aims to provide affordable refreshments at airports, offering items such as tea and water for Rs 10 and coffee and snacks for Rs 20, in an effort to make air travel more passenger-friendly.