The UK’s new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system comes into effect on 8 January 2025. With business travel to the UK soaring, Corporate Traveller does not foresee any speedbumps for the current growth rate but warns travel bookers to plan ahead.
Following other countries with similar systems, the UK will introduce its ETA requirement for visa-exempt travellers in January with the EU’s ETIAS following in May 2025.
Corporate Traveller booking data shows the UK was Australia’s second-largest international business travel destination after Singapore in 2024 with five per cent year-on-year growth from July – September.
Corporate Traveller Global Managing Director Tom Walley said finance and insurance industries are driving the increase in business travel along with a big drop in Australia-London airfare prices.
“Our booking data indicates Australia-UK business relationships are growing with companies prioritising in-person meetings and expansion opportunities in the UK,” he said.
Corporate Traveller’s data shows Australian SMEs are taking shorter but more frequent international trips to the UK with the average trip duration decreasing from 19 days in 2023 to 17 days this year.
London Heathrow remains the main UK destination for Australian business travellers.
One in five trips depart Sydney and land at Heathrow, followed by Melbourne and Brisbane. Manchester is the second-most popular airport for Australian business arrivals, followed by Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.
The new UK ETA – what businesses need to know
With the new UK ETA coming into play, Walley said travellers can expect to spend less time at airports, but more time planning beforehand to comply with the new travel entry requirements.
“While expected to improve border security processes, the new UK ETA changes the landscape of visa-free travel and requires more forward planning from travellers,” he said.
Australian travellers can now apply for the UK ETA, which costs £10 (around AUD$20).
Find out more about the UK ETA at the official website here.
