Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport has introduced an Udaan Yatri Cafe, offering passengers affordable food and beverages, in what officials describe as a decisive step towards making air travel more inclusive and accessible. With tea and bottled water priced at just ₹10 each, the facility promises relief to travellers who have long raised concerns about steep costs inside airports.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has launched similar facilities in other metro airports, positioned the Bhubaneswar cafe as part of its broader Udaan scheme to democratise flying. An official explained that the idea is not only to keep costs low but also to bring in transparency and fairness for passengers across income groups. Bhubaneswar is the fifth Indian airport to house such a facility after successful launches in Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune. Airport officials confirmed that the model has gained traction for balancing affordability with convenience. A plate of snacks such as samosas has been pegged at ₹20, keeping in line with the promise of maintaining prices well below commercial food outlets operating on airport premises.
The move is being read as a strong response to repeated public complaints that airport retail prices are out of reach for most middle-class passengers. Air travel may have become more affordable in recent years through government-backed connectivity schemes, but non-ticketing expenses like food and beverages remain prohibitive. By introducing a controlled-price model, authorities aim to neutralise this disparity and ensure passengers are not compelled to overspend during their journey. Experts say that such affordable interventions carry wider socio-economic implications. Airports, long seen as exclusive spaces, are increasingly being repositioned as hubs of public infrastructure where inclusivity is a guiding principle. This also resonates with India’s push towards building sustainable, equitable and gender-neutral transport facilities where all categories of passengers, from first-time fliers to frequent travellers, feel equally catered for.
From a sustainability lens, AAI officials pointed out that the cafe is being operated with measures to reduce packaging waste and encourage eco-friendly alternatives. Such steps are in sync with the government’s larger emphasis on making transport nodes greener while also supporting zero-carbon goals. For Bhubaneswar, a city emerging as a regional aviation hub, the Udaan Yatri Cafe represents both symbolism and service. It positions the airport as people-centric at a time when passenger numbers are surging, and expectations from airport services are rising in tandem.
Whether this model of pocket-friendly cafes becomes the new standard across India’s airports remains to be seen. But in Bhubaneswar, the move has already been welcomed by travellers who see it as a refreshing break from high-priced airport menus.
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