Airport Food and Water Prices Under Scrutiny as Travelers Question High Costs

New Delhi | April 14, 2025 — Passengers across the country are raising concerns over the steep prices of basic food and beverage items at airports, with water bottles and snacks being sold at significantly higher rates than in regular retail outlets.

Recent observations revealed that a standard water bottle priced at ₹60 in one airport was available for as much as ₹283 in another, sparking widespread debate on social media. The lack of a uniform pricing policy at airports is being cited as one of the key reasons for this variation.

According to airport authorities, the elevated prices are a result of the high cost of maintaining airport infrastructure. These include expenses related to security, ground handling, passenger services, and staff salaries. To offset these costs, airport management allows vendors to adopt a pricing model known as “Street Pricing Plus”, which permits them to charge 10–15% above standard market rates.

A report by the New York Post cited an instance in the United States where a journalist from USA Today found a bottle of water being sold for nearly ₹430 at JFK Airport. Authorities there defended the pricing, stating that operating high-security, 24/7 facilities demands substantial resources, which are reflected in consumer pricing.

In India, a similar trend has emerged. With no centralized regulations controlling product pricing within airport terminals, vendors are free to set their rates based on local operating conditions and agreements with airport operators.

While travelers continue to express frustration, industry experts suggest that such pricing is unlikely to change unless there is government intervention or a push for standardization from regulatory bodies.

For now, the high price of a simple snack or water bottle at the airport appears to be another cost travelers must factor into their journey — one shaped as much by aviation economics as by consumer demand.