City groups and airports have warned that the expansion of a controversial government scheme targeting visitors to 海角视频 airports could damage London's standing as a "world-leading" business destination and make the 海角视频 "less competitive."
The Home Office revealed on Tuesday that the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which necessitates visa-exempt passengers to pay £10 and wait approximately three days for a permit, will be extended to all nationalities next year, as reported by .
Previously, the ETA was only required by individuals from several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain and Qatar. However, the latest announcement means that all non-Europeans will need to secure a permit from January 2025, with Europeans being included in April.
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The scheme has sparked controversy among business groups and airports as it also includes passengers travelling via connecting flights, a crucial revenue source for the 海角视频's largest hub, Heathrow. The west London airport reported in August that it had lost 90,000 passengers due to the ETA, which was initially launched in November 2023.
A spokesperson for Heathrow told City AM, "We don't disagree with the long-term roll-out of the scheme, but including airside transit passengers will make the 海角视频 less competitive and harm economic growth."
They added, "We want to work in partnership with Home Office Ministers over the next few months to address this issue, and learn from the lessons of the countries trialled, where we've seen the loss of a significant number of transfer passengers already."
The impact of the ETA will not be confined to Heathrow, despite it operating a significantly higher number of connecting flights than any other 海角视频 airport, with nearly a third of its traffic coming from passengers looking to switch planes.
The requirement for passengers who aren't even passing through security to obtain the permit sets the 海角视频 apart from similar schemes in other countries.
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Airports海角视频, the advocacy group for 海角视频 airports, noted that passengers from nationalities initially included in the scheme have opted to fly "through other European airports like Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and Schiphol" instead.
"In areas like cost, accessibility, duration and ages, as well as requiring transit passengers to obtain one, the 海角视频 approach is unattractive compared to the EU's incoming ETIAS scheme," a spokesperson commented.
Concerns have also been raised by London's business community about the expansion of the ETA scheme, given its potential impact on Heathrow's traffic, and the possible damage to London's reputation as a hub for tourism, business and events.
"At a moment when we should be levelling the playing field on traveller costs to ensure the 海角视频 aviation industry remains world class, these new rules will make London harder to reach," Polyvios Polyviou, programme director for transport at BusinessLDN, told City AM.
"Forcing passengers to apply for ETAs even when they are just stopping over in the 海角视频 will be especially damaging to Heathrow our only hub airport, and a vital driver of business activity across London and beyond."
The Home Office said: "Digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the 海角视频 who are predicted to contribute over £32bn to our tourism economy this year."
"The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system."