LONDON, Jan 16(The Independent) – London Heathrow Airport has welcomed the Home Office’s reversal on requiring transit passengers to obtain online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permits simply to change planes.
Since earlier this month, all non-Europeans intending to travel to Britain without a visa have needed to apply online in advance and pay £10 for an ETA. Unlike most hub airports worldwide, the permit was deemed necessary even for passengers changing planes at Heathrow without going through passport control.
Airport and airline executives predicted that the requirement would drive thousands of passengers daily to rival airports in continental Europe, where no such rules exist for connecting travelers. Heathrow warned it could lose 4 million passengers annually.
Labour had continued the policy of Rishi Sunak’s government, with ministers claiming that airside transit without an ETA would increase the risk of illegal migration.
However, the Home Office has now yielded to pressure from Heathrow and airlines. In a statement, it said: “Following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed to a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside and therefore do not pass through UK border control.”
Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, said: “The removal of airside transit passengers from the ETA scheme is the right decision, and we welcome it. This is a critical move to ensure Heathrow and the aviation industry as a whole can continue to deliver for everyone who depends on our world-leading connectivity. It shows that the government is listening to industry concerns and is willing to make the necessary changes to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness and drive economic growth.”
Heathrow handles the vast majority of passengers changing planes in the UK. Manchester Airport also has a transit facility, but with far fewer users.
The Home Office also announced an increase in the price of an ETA from £10 to £16, though it is not known when the rise will take effect. Starting on 3 April 2025, all visitors to the UK apart from British and Irish citizens will need an ETA.
