Airport snacks now affordable? ₹10 tea counters surprise travellers
If the ₹10 tea experiment expands further into post-security zones, it could quietly reshape how Indians eat at airports.
If the ₹10 tea experiment expands further into post-security zones, it could quietly reshape how Indians eat at airports.
If the ₹10 tea experiment expands further into post-security zones, it could quietly reshape how Indians eat at airports.
For years, travellers have joked that hunger is easier to tolerate than airport food bills. A cup of tea often costs ₹150 or more, and a simple snack can burn a hole in the pocket before boarding. That familiar complaint is now facing a surprising twist.
A video from Pune Airport has gone viral, showing a counter where tea is priced at just ₹10. The stall, branded as the Udaan Yatri Café, is drawing praise online for offering affordable food inside the terminal.
Tea for ₹10, samosa for ₹20
The viral clip, shared by a traveller named Piyush Tripathi, shows the menu in clear view. Tea and bottled water are available for ₹10. For ₹20, passengers can pick up a hot samosa, vada, or even coffee.
For frequent flyers used to inflated airport prices, the numbers seem almost unbelievable. Social media users have flooded the comments section saying this is the kind of change travellers have been waiting for.
The political push behind the move
The push for affordable food at airports has a political backstory. Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party had earlier raised the issue of high food prices at airports in the Rajya Sabha. He argued that essential items such as tea and water should be available at reasonable rates for common travellers.
Following the video’s circulation, Chadha responded online, joking that he hoped the traveller enjoyed the samosa. His wife, actor Parineeti Chopra, also applauded the initiative.
Not just Pune
Pune is not the only airport to introduce such budget-friendly counters. Similar facilities are now operational at airports in:
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Bhubaneswar
The aim is to ensure that basic refreshments remain accessible, even within premium travel spaces.
Travellers want more access
At present, many of these low-cost counters are located in the check-in area before security. Passengers are now calling for similar outlets inside the boarding gate zones as well. It is often after security, while waiting for a delayed flight or during a long layover, that travellers feel most tempted to buy water or a quick snack.
If the ₹10 tea experiment expands further into post-security zones, it could quietly reshape how Indians eat at airports. For once, grabbing a cup of chai before a flight may not require second thoughts about the bill.