The boss of Heathrow today said the airport has already lost 90,000 transfer passengers since the introduction of a £10 a head electronic permit system last year.
CEO Thomas Woldbye said the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), introduced for nationals from seven countries - Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - who could previously travel visa free with just a passport had been “devastating” for Heathrow’s hub status.
