K Rammohan Naidu, the minister of civil aviation, stated at a function on Friday that airports run by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) might get cafes to offer travelers reasonably priced refreshment alternatives. Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport will receive the first 'Udaan Yatri Cafe' as a pilot project, according to the minister at an event meant to introduce the centenary celebration logo for the Kolkata airport's 100th anniversary.
“The cafe will offer a curated menu with affordable pricing, ensuring that passengers have access to quality food at a cost-effective rate, enhancing their travel experience without compromising on value,” Naidu said.
According to officials, the kiosks would be launched in the departure lounge of the Kolkata airport as a test project before being replicated at other AAI-run airports. In total, AAI operates over 125 airports across the country.
These kiosks will serve essential refreshments like tea, coffee, snacks, and water.
As India's aviation industry experiences rapid expansion, the minister stated that the ministry was taking action to make air travel more accessible and economical.
According to him, the civil aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing in the nation and is essential to job generation and economic expansion.
All verticals associated with civil aviation have pushed boundaries in the past ten years, particularly in this regard. “We are now the third-largest domestic aviation hub in the whole world. And now, we need to take it forward, break barriers once again, level up the civil aviation sector, and achieve the goal of becoming the number one domestic hub in the world,” the minister added.