Flyers to get affordable snacks at ‘fair price’ cafe
Times of India | 19 December 2024
Kolkata: In Sept, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram had flagged the issue of overpriced food and beverages at Kolkata airport, amplifying the complaints of many flyers in the past. Chidambaram felt the tea with a tea bag dipped in hot water served to him for Rs 340 was exorbitant. He isn't the only one to have burnt fingers while having a snack or a beverage at the airport. Many flyers have in the past complained that food at Kolkata airport had become prohibitively expensive. Acting on such complaints, the Airports Authority of India will launch a common man's cafe at the airport where basic refreshments like tea, coffee, water and light snacks will be available at affordable rates. The kiosk has been set up in the departure lounge before the security hold area.
Udan Yatri Café, which will be unveiled during the centenary celebration of Kolkata airport, will be extended to other airports in the country if the response is encouraging. Passengers who travel through the city airport said there was no reason why it should not be a hit.
"If the Udan Yatri Café sells tea for Rs 20-25, coffee for Rs 40-50, sandwiches for Rs 75-80 and patties for Rs 100, I am sure there will be many takers like me. If food items sold by brands in mall food courts can be priced the same as a standalone outlet in the city, there is no reason why shops at the airport should charge three-four times the price," said flyer Vivek Agarwal.
Though the airport has not disclosed the menu or prices, civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said that passengers who travelled by Udan flights would find the new cafe easy on their pockets. He was speaking on the topic while unveiling the centenary logo of Kolkata airport last week.
At present, a simple breakfast comprising sandwiches and a beverage or idli and filter coffee costs over Rs 400. For a four-member family, that means a payout of Rs 1,600 while taking an early morning flight out of Kolkata. Representatives of the Travel Agents' Association of India as well as the Travel Agents' Federation of India applauded the move to set up the café and said it would provide much comfort to flyers who felt rather shortchanged due to the exorbitant pricing of food at the airport stalls now.
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