There is some relief for those flying out of the new Bengaluru International Airport with the Airport Authority deciding to slash by 50 per cent the User Development Fee until May 31, 2008.

BIAL had proposed a User Development Fee of Rs 675 for domestic passengers, while the fee for international passengers was Rs 955. This was to be paid over and above the airfare.

Albert Brunner, chief executive officer, BIAL, said that the UDF would be 50 per cent less until May 31: that is, it would be Rs 338 for domestic passengers and Rs 478 for international passengers.

Brunner said that the decision was taken keeping in mind the transition phase that commuters would be under once the new airport is ready for operations.

Brunner said that the full fee would be imposed after May 31. He, however, added that this would be subject to the final decision of the regulatory commission which will be set up to review such matters. The commission will review the UDF and then take a final call on the matter, he said.

The new airport which is situated over an area of 103,000 square metres will be fully operational from 0001 hrs, March 29, 2008, Brunner said.

The airport will be officially inaugurated on March 30. Brunner said that they have invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the inauguration. He also announced that integrated trials commenced at the airport on Thursday. A trial run of passengers boarding the flights was done on Thursday. Brunner also informed that the first calibration flight would take before the end of February and only in the first week of March will the public trials commence.

Connectivity: Brunner said that connectivity is an issue, but added that the problem should be sorted out before the inauguration. He said that the government was working on the 'trumpet intersection on the national highway' connecting the airport. Connectivity is slightly better as there has been some improvement in the Hebbal stretch that connects the airport, he added.

Brunner pointed out that there would be a great deal of improvement in the connectivity once the Bengaluru Metro Rail comes up. He said that the Metro Rail would link the airport from BR Grounds near MG Road.

BIAL will have 10 per cent equity in this project that connects the airport and the infrastructure aspect regarding this would be taken care of by the International Airport Authority.

Earlier, reports had indicated that the first test flight from the new airport will take off on March 7.