Airlines Blast Decision By British Government to Hike Cost Of Electronic Travel Authorizations By 60%

The aviation industry has slammed a decision by the British government to hike the cost of obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization by 60% just days after the system came into force for millions more travelers.

Since January 8, international visitors to the UK who didn’t previously need a visa from any country outside of the European Union have had to pay £10 to obtain an ETA.

The cost will, however, soon rise to £16 in an attempt to raise an additional £269 million per year for the government’s coffers, the Home Office announced on Friday.

Willie Walsh, the former boss of British Airways who now heads the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), lashed out at the new money-making scheme, saying the trade body was vehemently opposed to the price rise.

“Proposing to increase ETA costs just a week after the system was introduced is bewildering,” Walsh said. “If implemented, it would be a self-inflicted blow to the UK’s tourism competitiveness,” the outspoken aviation boss continued.

Walsh accused the British government of price gouging and claimed travelers would not be able to afford the myriad fees imposed by the government to fly to the UK – including the unpopular Air Passenger Duty (APD) which is said to be the biggest travel tax in the world.

Defending the move, the Home Office said ETAs will “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will make getting through the border a much quicker experience for millions of travelers.

Earlier on Friday, the aviation industry had welcomed a Home Office decision to exempt international transit passengers who have no intention of entering the UK from obtaining an ETA.

Airlines had feared that the requirement would push passengers to book flights via rival European airports like Amsterdam Schiphol.

The Home Office said the exemption, which affects London Heathrow and Manchester as the only two British airports to allow airside transit, was only temporary and could be revoked if illegal migrants used the loophole as a way to enter the UK.