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The CEO of Heathrow airport states that requiring transit passengers to pay £10 and register online for a permit will have negative consequences for the UK.
Thomas Woldbye expressed disapproval of the proposed implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) program, which would also impact connecting travelers who spend only two hours at the airport between international flights.
In an interview with The Independent, he stated that this significantly decreases the competitiveness of the hub we have established in Heathrow, which he believes is crucial for the UK.
The ETA program is currently available to tourists from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It will eventually be extended to all non-visa holders, including citizens from Europe and America, who wish to visit or pass through the UK.
Passengers traveling on same-airport international connections are required to have the same documentation as those arriving in the UK for a holiday or business visit, unlike other major European countries.
Passengers transferring at Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports are not required to fulfill local border regulations if they are continuing their journey to a destination outside of Europe’s Schengen Area.
According to Mr. Woldbye, we endorse the ETA system as it is a logical approach to immigration.
However, he suggested that individuals who are simply passing through the airport to reach their final destination in another country should not bother with applying online and paying a fee of £10 for a short layover.
In my opinion, I believe it is an error,” stated the CEO of Heathrow. “It is imperative that it is corrected promptly.”
On the day that Heathrow announced its first profit in three years, Mr. Woldbye spoke to The Independent.
Approximately 30% of travelers at Heathrow Airport are on flights with connections, which amounts to approximately 25 million trips annually.
For a trip from Bahrain to Boston with no direct flights available, travelers can opt to transfer through Frankfurt, Istanbul, or London Heathrow. However, only those passing through Heathrow would require online application and payment for access to the “airside” transit lounge for Bahraini citizens.
It is anticipated that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will experience a decrease in customers compared to their European competitors.
According to Paul Charles, who is the director of The PC Agency and a former communications director for Virgin Atlantic, imposing taxes on transit is a sign of failure. He believes that if other airports provide complimentary transit services, they will attract more customers.
Airports should be areas that promote convenience and effortless travel. The proposed tax should be eliminated.
A representative from the Home Office stated that they are implementing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) program in order to strengthen border security by gaining more information about individuals attempting to enter the UK and preventing the entry of those deemed a potential threat.
“Requiring an ETA for transit passengers prevents individuals from using connecting flights as a means to bypass obtaining permission to travel to the UK. We are constantly monitoring this measure as we implement the scheme.”
The government’s online information regarding the new scheme states that individuals in transit will now be required to obtain an ETA, which will prevent transit from being used as a loophole to avoid needing an ETA. This is consistent with the US ESTA scheme.
There is a significant contrast between the UK and the US. In the US, all incoming travelers must go through border control as if they were intending to stay for an extended period of time before catching their connecting flight. However, transit passengers in the UK are not subject to this requirement.
The European Union plans to implement the long-awaited Etias (Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System) in the upcoming year. The EU has explicitly stated that passengers who are only staying in the international transit area do not require an Etias travel authorisation.
Listen to the full interview between Simon Calder and Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow CEO
Source: independent.co.uk
