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London Heathrow Airport has welcomed the Home Office's decision to reverse the new visa requirement for transit passengers needing online ETA permits just to change planes.
Earlier this month, all non-Europeans traveling to Britain without a visa were required to apply online and pay £10 for an electronic travel authorization (ETA). Unlike most hub airports worldwide, this permit was necessary even for passengers merely changing planes at Heathrow without passing through passport control.
Airport and airline executives warned that this requirement would drive thousands of passengers daily to rival airports in continental Europe, where no such rules exist for connecting travelers. Heathrow estimated it could lose 4 million passengers annually. Labour had continued the policy from Rishi Sunak’s government, arguing that airside transit without an ETA increased 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.” While the Home Office insists “the exemption will be kept under review,” many in the aviation industry doubt the online permit requirement for connecting travelers will return.
Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, commented: “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 necessary changes to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness and drive economic growth.”
Heathrow handles the majority of passengers changing planes in the UK, with Manchester Airport also having a transit facility but with far fewer users.
The Home Office also announced a potential increase in the price of an ETA from £10 to £16, though the timing of this rise is not yet known. Starting on 2 April 2025, all arrivals in the UK, except British and Irish citizens, UK visa holders, and those remaining in “airside” transit, will need an ETA.
