Corporate Traveler is urging businesses to be aware of the UK's new 'Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirements for visa-exempt travelers from 8 January 2025.
Corporate Traveler predicts the new rules may not cause a dent in travel growth to the UK but will require forward planning.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) systems are being introduced around the world, with Australia first in 1996, followed by the US (2008), Canada (2015) and New Zealand (2019). This year, the UK and EU will follow suit to improve border security and streamline entry processes for visa-free travellers.
ETAs enable authorities to pre-screen inbound travelers against security databases, track and trace their movements in and out of the country, ensure compliance with immigration laws and prevent document fraud through the inclusion of biometric data (UK ETAs with facial recognition).
The UK will launch its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system on 8 January, with the EU to follow later this year. The UK ETA, which costs £10 (AUD$20), will apply to most non-European countries, including citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
Corporate Traveler global managing director Tom Walley says travelers can expect to spend less time at the airport, but plan more time in advance.
He said: “While expected to improve border security processes, the new UK ETA changes the landscape of visa-free travel and requires more advanced planning from travellers. Many frequent travelers will be well versed in this type of process with the USA ESTA process in place.
“While travel management companies such as Corporate Travelers always ensure customers comply with the new policy, I urge businesses organizing their own travel to be aware of the changing entry requirements for their 2025 travel destinations.
“Travellers who have been used to visa-free travel for years and who land in the UK without an ETA will be turned away. From the end of this year, visitors will face the same requirements in the European Union.”
Corporate Traveler data shows the UK was Australia's second largest international business travel destination in 2024, after Singapore.
Tom said: “Growth is largely driven by the finance and insurance industry, which accounts for one in five bookings in the UK compared to one in six bookings last year.
“Other key industries such as IT, government and healthcare have also increased travel, as companies continue to recognize the value of cement partnerships, sales growth and face-to-face team management.
“Our booking data indicates that Australia-UK business relationships are growing, with companies prioritizing in-person meetings and opportunities to expand into the UK.”
More affordable airfares are adding to the momentum. Tom said: “Average economy fares between Australia and London have fallen by around AUD$200 per year in the six months to November 2024, with carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Etihad and China Southern offering the best value.”
Corporate Traveler data shows that Australian businesses are traveling slightly less, but more frequently, internationally. In the UK, the average journey time has fallen slightly from 19 days in 2023 to 17 days this year.
London Heathrow remains the dominant UK destination for Australian business travellers, with one in five trips departing from Sydney and landing at Heathrow, followed by Melbourne-Heathrow with just under one in five trips making that route, followed by Brisbane (one in 10 trips).
After Heathrow, Manchester is the next most popular airport for Australian business arrivals, followed by Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.