From next Wednesday, July 8, a significant change to airport passport rules will allow children aged eight and nine to use eGates at 13 UK airports, provided they are at least 120cm tall and accompanied by an adult. The Labour Party government confirmed the expansion, which is expected to benefit approximately 1.5 million additional passengers.
Details of the New Rule
Under the current regulations, children must be aged 10 or older to use eGates. This new measure lowers the age threshold to eight, following a previous reduction from 12 to 10 in 2023. The change aims to streamline border processing for families, reducing waiting times during the busy summer holiday season.
Affected Airports
The 13 airports where the new rules apply include major hubs such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham (BHX), Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. These airports handle a significant portion of UK international travel.
Official Reactions
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, praised the development, stating: “Travel with young children can be stressful for parents. By expanding eGate access, more families can experience a swifter and smoother journey home – freeing up precious time this summer holiday season.”
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, commented: “This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many.”
Patricia Yates, chief executive of Visit Britain, added: “We want to provide a world-class experience for the millions of visitors who travel here every year. Expanding eGate access boosts our competitive tourism offer and our message of welcome, inspiring even more visitors and families to book a trip to Britain this summer and beyond.”
Impact on Families
The policy change is expected to alleviate stress for parents traveling with young children, allowing faster passage through border control. With summer holidays approaching, the move is anticipated to improve the overall travel experience for families visiting or returning to the UK.
