The UDAN Yatri Cafe is an Indian government initiative that offers affordable food and drinks at airports for common travellers. UDAN stands for "Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik," meaning "the common citizen of the country flies," while "Yatri" means traveller.
Anyone who's travelled by air knows how expensive airport food and drinks can be. That's why the purpose of Udaan Yatri Cafe is to break this barrier by offering quality meals and beverages at pocket-friendly prices. These cafes are making air travel more accessible and affordable for everyday flyers and budget-conscious travellers across Indian airports.
How UDAN Yatri Cafe is Helping Travellers
The Udaan Cafe has created a positive impact on making air travel less expensive for the average person. The Udaan programme helps to reduce the cost of flight tickets, while also providing a solution to a separate issue: excessive charges associated with food found at airports, which can be as high as three or four times what you would normally pay.
Think about a family of four stopping for tea at a regular airport cafe. It could easily cost ₹400-500. At the UDAN Yatri Cafe, the same break costs just ₹40-80, saving over 80%.
Here's who benefits the most:
- Families on a Budget: Parents with kids can now buy snacks and drinks without worrying about high prices draining their travel money.
- Students and Young travellers: Those flying for studies or new jobs can grab a quick bite without stressing about money.
- Regular business travellers: People who fly often for work, especially those with tight expense limits, enjoy the same low prices at every airport.
- Senior Citizens: Elderly passengers who need frequent refreshments can get them at fair, affordable rates.
The cafes also help ease the worry many first-time flyers feel about expensive airports, making the whole experience friendlier and more welcoming.
Which Airports Have Udaan Yatri Cafe?
The UDAN Yatri Cafe initiative kicked off in late 2024 and has been rapidly expanding across the country. The first affordable cafe opened in Kolkata, following complaints from passengers about expensive food and drinks at airports.
The issue was even discussed in Parliament. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced that such cafes would be launched at airports across the country.
The UDAN Yatri Cafe at Kolkata Airport became the first location when Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport opened its doors on December 27, 2024. From there, the program has spread to several other cities nationwide.
Below is the Udaan Yatri Cafe Airport List:
- December 27, 2024 - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Kolkata
- February 27, 2025 - Chennai Airport(MAA), Chennai
- March 7, 2025 - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), Ahmedabad
- April 28, 2025 - Pune Airport (PNQ), Pune
- September 3, 2025 - Bhubaneswar Airport (BBI) Bhubaneswar
- September 11, 2025 - Donyi Polo Airport(HGI), Itanagar
- September 29, 2025 - Vijayawada Airport (VGA), Vijayawada
- January 10, 2026 - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA), Hyderabad
UDAN Yatri Cafe at Delhi Airport coming soon?
The UDAN Yatri Cafe initiative is set to expand further with upcoming locations in major Indian cities. The UDAN Yatri Cafe at Delhi Airport is among the most anticipated launches, along with the UDAN Yatri Cafe at Bangalore Airport.
Travellers at Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi airports will soon enjoy these budget-friendly cafes.
The UDAN Yatri Cafe refreshments include:
- Water bottles: ₹10
- Tea: ₹10
- Coffee: ₹20
- Samosas: ₹20 and
- Sweet of the day: ₹20
With such pocket-friendly prices, passengers can enjoy a convenient and budget-friendly stop before their flight.
Udaan Yatri Cafe's influence on society is visible in lesser-populated metropolitan areas, where there are many individuals who have only fled for the very first time. Airports that feature Udaan Yatri Cafe provide people an opportunity to eat without having to pay high amounts for food or to not eat at all, which they might have otherwise done.
By keeping food and drinks budget-friendly, these cafes make air travel comfortable for everyone, regardless of their income, truly fulfilling the promise of "Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik" - letting every common citizen fly.
