How often have you found yourself at the airport, caraving a warm cup of coffee to pass the time before your flight, only to hesitate when you see the price tag hovering around Rs 250?
With Udan Yatri Cafe, you no longer have to deny yourself the pleasure. Chennai International Airport welcomed a new chapter in its journey toward affordable travel with the grand opening of the Udan Yatri Cafe. The ribbon was cut by none other than Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. The cafe, a pocket-friendly haven for travellers, is the latest milestone in a mission to transform airports into spaces where comfort doesn’t come with a hefty price tag.
“This isn’t just about a cup of tea or a samosa,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of purpose. “It’s about dignity and ease for every passenger who walks through these gates.” He gestured toward the cafe’s modest yet inviting setup, where a cup of tea costs a mere ₹10 and a samosa goes for ₹20 - prices that feel like a throwback in the notoriously pricey world of airport dining.
The Udan Yatri Cafe at Chennai follows the runaway success of its predecessor at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, which, since its launch in December 2024, has served over 27,000 passengers in its first month alone. “We saw the response in Kolkata - 900 people a day flocking to affordable, quality food,” Naidu noted. “Chennai is the next step, and soon, every airport in India will have this option.”
“This is my commitment to ‘Ease of Flying’ - a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an inclusive aviation sector.” For the travelers sipping tea and munching snacks at the Udan Yatri Cafe, that vision felt less like a distant promise and more like a tangible reality, one affordable bite at a time.
Naidu took the opportunity to update the room on Chennai’s aviation landscape. Phase II of Terminal 2, he revealed, is nearing completion, promising to boost capacity and ease congestion. On the contentious Parandhur airport project, he offered clarity: “Site clearance is done, and in-principal approval is on the horizon. The state handles land issues; we focus on feasibility.” His tone was firm yet diplomatic, navigating the delicate balance between progress and local concerns.