Air travellers may soon get relief from unpredictable airport cab fares. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bharat Taxi, a driver-owned cooperative platform, to introduce fixed-fare, surge-free services across select AAI-managed airports, including Pune.

For years, flyers have complained about price spikes during peak hours, late nights and bad weather. The new arrangement aims to replace dynamic pricing with transparent, distance-based tariffs, giving passengers certainty before they start the ride.

The February 5 agreement covers a phased launch at 11 airports such as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Rajkot, Patna, Varanasi, Vadodara, Surat, Bhuj, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Agra, in addition to Pune.

Bharat Taxi runs as a cooperative, allowing drivers to retain a larger share of earnings after operating expenses. The framework is backed by national cooperative institutions to strengthen income security and welfare.

What passengers can expect

• No surge pricing

• Clear per-kilometre fares

• No hidden charges

• App-based booking

The move supports broader government priorities around self-reliance and cooperative participation in the gig economy while improving last-mile airport connectivity.