Air passengers queue at border passport control entrance gates at Heathrow Airport, London, UK. Heathrow has announced that transit passengers won’t need ETA permits after all!
Credit: Shutterstock, 1000 Words
In a stunning switch, Heathrow Airport has welcomed a government U-turn on the controversial online travel permit (ETA) rule that forced transit passengers to apply for a permit just to change planes.
Earlier this month, the Home Office caused a stir by demanding all non-European passengers travelling to the UK without a visa to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), even if they were just passing through the airport without leaving the secure airside zone. This meant thousands of passengers were being forced to pay £10 for a permit – even if they weren’t stepping foot in the UK.
Unlike airports across the globe, Heathrow set a dangerous precedent by treating connecting travellers like they were entering the country, even though they weren’t going through passport control. The rule was a nightmare for airport and airline chiefs, who warned it could send passengers fleeing to rival airports in Europe, where no such permits are currently required. Heathrow even predicted it could lose a staggering 4 million passengers each year.
The policy was continued under Labour, with ministers defending it by claiming that airside transit without an ETA would fuel illegal migration. But after mounting pressure from Heathrow and the airline industry, the Home Office has now changed its tune.
In a dramatic statement, the Home Office confirmed, “Following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside and therefore do not pass through UK border control.”
While the Home Office was quick to point out that the exemption “will be kept under review,” the aviation industry has made it clear that they ‘don’t expect this ridiculous rule to make a comeback’ any time soon.
Heathrow’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, couldn’t hide his relief, calling the decision ‘the right one’ and a ‘critical move to ensure Heathrow and the aviation industry can continue to deliver for everyone who depends on our world-leading connectivity.’ Woldbye even praised the government for ‘listening to industry concerns’ on this occasion and making changes to help boost the UK’s competitiveness.
But, wait, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Home Office also hinted at a price increase for ETAs, potentially raising the fee from £10 to £16. While the exact date of the increase remains a mystery, it’s another headache for passengers passing through the UK.
In an additional blow to those arriving after April 2025, only British and Irish citizens, holders of UK visas, and those remaining in ‘airside’ transit will be exempt from the ETA requirement. Everyone else – prepare to cough up!
Will this be the last of the hiccups in this Home Office travel permit drama, or will there be more excitement to come? For the time being, it’s one less thing to worry about for Heathrow and its passengers.
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