Incident: Shrayansh Singh, a Bengaluru-based lawyer, raised concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about Indigo Airlines’ fee structure after being charged Rs 50 as a “Cute Charge” for his flight from Lucknow to Bengaluru. Singh questioned the necessity and fairness of various fees, including the “User Development Fee” and “Aviation Security Fee.”

Singh’s Queries:

  • “Cute Charge”: Singh asked if this fee was related to the cuteness of passengers or the airline’s aircraft.
  • “User Development Fee”: He questioned how this fee benefits him as a traveler.
  • “Aviation Security Fee”: Singh inquired if this fee was redundant, given that taxes are already paid for safety measures.

Indigo’s Response: The airline clarified that the “Cute Charge” refers to the Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) fee, which covers the use of airport equipment like metal detectors and escalators.

Further Clarification:

  • Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) Fee: Charged by the airport to airlines for using check-in desk equipment.
  • User Development Fee (UDF): Levied by airports to fund construction and improvements, with rates adjusted based on traffic and investment.
  • Aviation Security Fee: Formerly part of the Passenger Service Fee (PSF), this fee supports security operations and cross-subsidizes smaller airports.

Public Reaction: Singh’s post, which received substantial attention with nearly 2.5 million views, prompted other passengers to also question these charges.

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