Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday raised the issue of high food prices at airports in Parliament and called for a wider expansion of the government’s Udaan Yatri Cafes, which aim to provide affordable food to air travellers.
Chadha said that passengers have long complained about the excessive cost of food and beverages at airports. While appreciating the government’s initiative to introduce Udaan Yatri Cafes, he noted that the scheme currently has limited reach and requires further improvements to benefit a larger number of travellers.
According to Chadha, India currently has more than 150 airports, but only around 10–12 airports have Udaan Yatri Cafes operational. He urged the government to expand the initiative to all airports across the country so that affordable food options are accessible to every passenger, regardless of the airport they travel from.
The MP also highlighted concerns regarding the location of these cafes. He pointed out that most of the existing Udaan Yatri Cafes are situated in the pre-check-in area, before the security check. Chadha suggested that the cafes should ideally be set up inside the departure area, after check-in and security, where passengers typically spend the longest time waiting to board their flights.
He argued that placing the cafes inside the secure departure zones would make them more useful for travellers who often purchase tea, snacks, or light meals while waiting at boarding gates.
“Affordable food at airports should not be a luxury. It is a basic convenience for travellers,” Chadha said, urging authorities to address both the limited presence and the current placement of the cafes.
The government had launched the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative to counter criticism over expensive airport food and provide budget-friendly options such as tea, coffee, and snacks for passengers. Chadha’s intervention in Parliament adds momentum to calls for wider implementation and better accessibility of the scheme at airports nationwide.
