Heathrow Airport accuses Government of 'curtailing UK's global connectivity'

13 May 2024 , 08:08

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The Government has refused calls to reverse the 2020 decision to end tax-free shopping for inbound visitors (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Bosses at Heathrow Airport have accused the Government of hindering the UK's "global connectivity".

Measures like a £10 fee for some transiting passengers and refusing to bring back tax-free shopping for international tourists have drawn criticism from the West London airport. The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) introduced in November 2023 incurred a £10 cost for people transiting through the UK without legal residence or a visa, and is currently only in effect for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

This program plans to extend to include EU, EEA and Swiss nationals in early 2025, and the rest of the world later in the autumn. Amid calls to rekindle tax-free shopping for visitors which was axed in 2020, Heathrow said: "Current Government policy is curtailing the UK's global connectivity."

"Initiatives like the introduction of unnecessary visas for transiting passengers, the absence of tax-free shopping and the recently proposed hike in business rates underscore the need for ministers to take a cross-government approach to policymaking that supports UK aviation's global competitiveness."

Heathrow Airport has released figures indicating a 4.8% increase in passenger traffic this April compared to last year, with 6.7 million passengers passing through its gates. The airport is confidently predicting that it's on course for a record-breaking year in terms of traveller numbers.

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Last month saw significant growth in passenger numbers on flights linking Heathrow with other parts of the UK, as well as those flying to and from the Asia/Pacific and Middle East regions, with double-digit percentage increases. The April 19 marked Heathrow's busiest day for air traffic since October 2019, witnessing 1,337 flights arriving or departing.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow's chief executive, said: "It takes an extraordinary team to deliver this strong performance and I'm proud of what everyone across the airport has achieved so far this year."

Mr Woldbye emphasised the airport's commitment to growth and readiness for future challenges, adding: "As we continue to grow, our focus is on making Heathrow fit for the future, delivering reliable journeys for all our customers today and getting ready for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow."

However, he also highlighted the need for government support, saying: "But to unlock our full potential to help grow the country's economy, we need the Government to implement policies that support UK aviation's ability to compete globally, and thus make the UK more competitive overall."

Lawrence Matheson