Airlines Oppose Proposed UK ETA Price Hike

Why IATA says the increase is the wrong move

In its January 2025 press release, IATA criticised the proposal to raise the UK ETA fee to GBP 16. The group argued that introducing a steep increase so soon after rollout would send a negative message to visitors and weaken the UK's competitiveness as a travel destination.

The wider cost argument

IATA linked the ETA proposal to the broader cost of flying to the UK, pointing in particular to Air Passenger Duty. Its argument was that travellers compare total trip costs across destinations, and that adding a higher ETA fee on top of existing taxes could discourage demand rather than support the government's tourism ambitions.

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Why the issue matters beyond one policy change

The press release framed the ETA debate as part of a larger question about border policy and price sensitivity. For the airline industry, digital travel permissions can improve pre-departure screening, but they become harder to defend when fees rise sharply and appear disconnected from wider competitiveness goals.