Why Are Water and Snacks So Expensive at Airports? Here’s the Real Reason
Why Are Water and Snacks So Expensive at Airports? Here’s the Real Reason
Next time you’re at an airport and shocked by the price of a water bottle or snack, you’re not alone. Airport food and drinks are often much costlier than outside. But why?
Travelers often pay high prices even for basic items like water. Surprisingly, prices vary from airport to airport. For example, the same water bottle was priced at ₹60 at one airport, while it cost ₹283 at another. There’s no national rule regulating prices at airports, which is a key reason for the difference.
Many airports increase product prices to balance their high operating costs. These include flight handling charges, security expenses, passenger services, and staff wages. Since these costs are unavoidable, airport authorities allow shops to add a markup to manage expenses.
According to a New York Post report, a USA Today journalist found a water bottle selling for about ₹430 at JFK Airport. The Port Authority explained that the high costs involved in running airport operations are often passed on to consumers through slightly increased product prices.
This system is known as “Street Pricing Plus.” It allows airport vendors to charge 10–15% more than regular street prices. The margin helps cover the costs of operating in a high-security, high-service environment like an airport.
So, while water and snacks are expensive at most airports, the rates differ depending on the airport’s own cost structure. Simply put, the higher the cost of running the airport, the higher the price tag on your bottle of water.
Now you know why airport snacks hit your wallet harder It’s not just inflation, it’s aviation economics
